Looking to get fit?

From dance classes to tae kwon do classes, there's plenty to do when it comes to health and fitness activities coming up in Cincinnati this week. Read on for a rundown.

Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions.

From the Bi-Okoto Drum & Dance Theatre deal description:

Where:Bi-Okoto Drum & Dance Theatre, 5601 Montgomery RoadPrice: $26 for Five Drop-In Classes (48% discount off regular price); $56.50 for Ten Drop-In Classes (43% discount off regular price)Click here for more details, and to nab this deal

From the Cincinnati Dance Center deal description:

Where:Oskamp Mansion, 2373 Harrison Ave.Price: $19 for One Private Lesson for One or Two (90% discount off regular price); $19 for Five Group Classes for One (62% discount off regular price); $49 for Two Private Dance Classes with One Group Class and Dance Party for One or Two (75% discount off regular price)Click here for more details, and to nab this deal

From the R Bushman Tae Kwon Do deal description:

Where:Kilgour Farm, 3666 Paxton Ave.Price: $29 for One Month of Unlimited Classes (71% discount off regular price); $49 for Two Months of Unlimited Classes (75% discount off regular price)Click here for more details, and to score this deal

This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.

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Cincinnati boasts a hot lineup of health and fitness deals this week - Hoodline

October 17, 2019

LUMBEERTON Two Southeastern Health co-workers who lost their fathers to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease have helped to organize an event to raise awareness and money to assist COPD patients.

The Every Breath Counts COPD 5K Run, Awareness Walk and Health Fair is scheduled for Nov. 2 at Dr. Raymond B. Pennington Athletic Complex in Lumberton. Day-of registration for the event begins at 7 a.m. and the 5K begins at 8 a.m. There is a $25 entry fee for the race, which includes a T-shirt. To register in advance for the 5K, go online to https://my6.raceresult.com/139091/.

Melanie McKee and Stephanie Smith, who both work in Southeastern Healths Care Coordination department, are the women who came up with the idea for this event and reached out to Southeastern Lifestyle Fitness Center Manager Mike Jimenez and Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Manager James Smith, since pulmonary rehab is vital to helping patients successfully manage COPD, a term applied to a family of lung diseases that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Earlier this year, Melanie and I were talking about the many COPD patients and caretakers in our own community who dont have access to or the knowledge of resources that are available to COPD patients, Smith said. Our fathers passed two months apart, and through our journeys we found support from each other and the huge need to bring awareness for COPD. We thought, what better way to honor them, than for us to give back to our community, bringing awareness to this cause, which is greatly needed in our area. I knew it would make our fathers proud that we continue to reach out to help others in similar situations.

The event also will include a free Awareness Walk at 9:30 a.m., which will take participants on a designated route at the park. Family members who would like a loved one recognized on the day of the event can make an advance donation designating COPD Awareness Event and in memory or in honor of the individual by contacting the Southeastern Health Foundation at 910-671-5583.

The race awards will be presented at 11 a.m. and a COPD Awareness Health Fair will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The health fair will include a speaker, Southeastern Health pulmonologist Dr. Andres Endara-Bravo, and educational booths with free COPD screening, pulmonary rehab information, medication resources, MyChart sign-up, palliative care/life care planning information, the Wellness On Wheels Bus, and information on respiratory supplies.

Money raised will go toward scholarships to help Southeastern Pulmonary Rehab patients without secondary insurance be better able to participate in pulmonary rehab. It also will benefit a Life Care Planning Initiative.

The thing about COPD is that people can live years with it and not know they have it, Smith said. My dad, Rickey Barnes, had always been very active, healthy, and was one of the hardest working men you could meet. In the blink of an eye, his lifestyle changed forever. I kept suggesting pulmonary rehab until he finally agreed to attend. There, he received additional education about COPD, medication education, breathing exercises, and so much more.

As a nurse, McKee said she was able to help her father, John Sasser McKee III, throughout his COPD progression, but she knows that not everyone is lucky enough to have a health-care professional in the family.

His journey could have been very different, McKee said. Initially, once he was prescribed the necessary medications for COPD, he was much better. It also helped when I was finally able to convince him that pulmonary rehab would be beneficial.

McKee and her father openly discussed his questions about the end-of-life process, and he met with the palliative care expert at Southeastern Health, which helped to make his end-of-life transition easier. Looking back, she wished that the family had talked about palliative care sooner. Smith also wished that her father had accepted palliative care sooner in his diseases progress.

McKee and Smith know their stories arent unique, and they want to help more families who have a loved one with COPD. They hope Every Breath Counts will become an annual event.

Patients and caregivers must be educated and encouraged to ask their providers questions, be health-care advocates, think about getting preventative screenings, have education on respiratory supplies, and more, Smith said. There were over 10,000 patients who came through our healthcare system within the past year that had a diagnosis of COPD. This event will offer a magnitude of information that can help people be informed on what resources are available to them so that they can live their best quality of life and have better outcomes.

In the event of inclement weather, visit @SeHealth on Facebook for event updates. For more information about this event, call 910-738-5433.

Stephanie Smith, left, and Melanie McKee are using their families experiences with COPD to make a difference and raise awareness for others with the disease.

See the article here:
Walking adds fitness fun to vacation - The Robesonian

WAYNESBORO With true hard work and having a goal, you can accomplish anything.

That may sound cliche, but for Dylan Bryan of Waynesboro, the dream is coming true. The new owner of WBO Health & Fitness, 118 Walnut St., never wavered in his belief to follow your passion, do what you love. And Bryan had plenty of reasons to become discouraged. I took the hardest route possible to get to where I wanted to be. Being 24 zero equity ... zero business experience my back was against the wall as far as it could be.

Bryan began shaping his future years ago. The son of Tracy and Michael Bryan of Waynesboro, he graduated from Waynesboro Area Senior High School in 2013 and earned a degree in business management from Penn State Mont Alto in 2017. After working at XPO Logistics in Hagerstown as a freight operations supervisor for a few months, Bryan joined JLG Hagerstown as an aftermarket parts analyst, a job he held since assuming ownership of the gym in September.

Bryan had been a patron and front desk employee of the gym for six years. I was really getting into fitness and quickly realized that I was making it more of a lifestyle. I researched fitness ... studied workout plans and nutrition. I developed an in-depth passion for fitness.

He also decided working for somebody in an office setting was not what I wanted. I thought, theres no better time to take a risk and go for it. Im young and motivated and have the time to do it.

The process to take over the business from former owners Jason and Yoli Wilson of Waynesboro began about a year ago. They understood where I was at, that I care about the gym and was not just another employee that I wanted to make fitness my job. It was a lifestyle, Bryan explained.

It sounds simple, but wasnt simple at all, according to Bryan. I saved every penny for about a year. Having a family who was understanding of my aspirations helped a lot.

Bryan worked with a local bank and the Small Business Administration. They drug me through the mud 40 to 50 times. It was an eight- to nine-month month process ... back and forth paperwork projections. It was a long process. I had to convince them to lend me the money. I never took no for an answer. It was a long, hard battle, but it all paid off.

Bryan said he is living proof that you cant make anything happen unless you give it a shot. The main thing was keeping my spirits up, knowing that the end goal would be the amount of satisfaction and happiness in being able to own a gym. That was my dream when I was 18 and in the classroom.

No big changes for WBO are in the works. It functions very well as it is, said Bryan, who plans to fully utilize the available space. Well be taking down some barrier walls, adding new equipment expanding the fitness offerings."

Employees at the facility share a passion for fitness. And they are dealing with people for their whole shift, so they must be well spoken, kind.

Offerings at the gym include free weights, more than 30 different strength training machines and 40 pieces of cardio equipment. One thing I want to get across is that our price is $24.99 a month for use of all equipment and any of our 16 classes. The gym is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Babysitting is available from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:45 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. The phone number is 717-655-5024.

I also would like to spotlight that we now have a full yoga studio with eight to 10 classes a week. Were getting a lot of great feedback about that. New to the gym is a full body hydraulic circuit featuring music to alert users to change stations. This is great for new members.

WBO features a full smoothie bar, protein drinks, workout supplements and a cooler filled with water and energy drinks, etc.

Bryan is dedicated to being a visible owner, who enjoys interacting with members and is open to recommendations.

WBO takes a lot of pride in our belief that whoever steps through that door, we will help them reach their goals.

More:
Bryan becomes new owner of WBO Health & Fitness - GoErie.com

Sarah Tew/CNET

There's no better time to adopt healthy habits than the present. This year, we've seen a lot of innovation around fitness, wellness, beauty and healthy eating, and that means there are tons of products out there that can help you -- or the people you're shopping for -- work out better, recover more easily, sleep more soundly or take care of your heart health.

Whether you're shopping for someone who already loves to exercise and eat well or someone looking to adopt new habits, this list has all that you need.

These products and services are independently chosen by our editors. CNET may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site. Prices are accurate at time of publishing.

Apple's focused on health and fitness, so that means the new Apple Watch Series 5 has several features to help you stay healthy. The watch can measure ambient sound levels, track menstrual cycles, and keep tabs on how much you move throughout the day. It's also got a heart-rate tracker and can take an EKG to give you insight on your heart's health -- though you should think twice about buying an Apple Watch for someone who already has heart issues.

You can use the watch untethered from a phone with built-in GPS and an LTE data support (you'll need a separate SIM card for the watch though). That means you can leave your phone at home when you go out on a run.

Looking for a lot of the same features for much less? Pick up an Apple Watch Series 3, which now costs $200. A simple and free software upgrade to WatchOS 6 gives the watch the same noise-tracking and activity-tracking features. Read Apple Watch Series 5 review

This fitness tracker/smartwatch combo offers many of the same features of the Apple Watch, but it's more versatile because it also connects to Android phones (you can only use the Apple Watch with an iPhone).

The Versa 2 has built-in sleep tracking and a battery that can last five days or more on a single charge,two things the Apple Watch lacks. The Versa 2 also now uses Amazon's Alexa voice assistant to help you with requests, like asking about the weather or controlling smart lights and other smart home devices. Read Fitbit Versa 2 review

At just $36, this fitness tracker and smartwatch hybrid is actually a great low-cost alternative to the Fitbits and Garmin Vivofits out there. It tracks your steps, your sleep, heart rate, up to six different workout types and more. The design is sleek, the screen is bright and easy to read, and the battery life on this Xiaomi Mi band can last up to 20 days on a single charge. The Apple Watch can't even come close to that.

Unless you're a pro athlete, the Theragun is something you'd probably never buy yourself. This percussive massage gun uses a rapid thumping movement to reduce inflammation. Basically, it gives you the experience of getting a deep tissue massage, but whenever and wherever you want. Perfect for the weight lifter or fitness enthusiast in your life.

Theragun models start at $249 and go up to $600, and there are several other percussive massagers out there worth checking out.

If you want to gift someone an electric toothbrush, you may as well go with one of the smartest options out there. Oral-B's Genius X brush uses AI to learn how you brush and coaches you on how you can brush better, meaning making sure you aren't missing any parts of your mouth and aren't brushing too hard, which can hurt your gums.

Now, of course, only gift this someone who would appreciate it -- not as a not-so-subtle sign that they need to up their oral hygiene. If this brush is giving you sticker shock, here are several other great electric toothbrushes for less.

ClassPass gives you access to millions of real-life fitness classes in more than 2500 cities worldwide. Members can sign up for a monthly subscription, but you can also give someone a ClassPass gift card that they can use at any time.

The idea of ClassPass is actually really smart because it lets anyone try out a huge variety of fitness classes and experiences without making a commitment to one specific gym or studio. It's perfect for that person who wants to try yoga or acrobatics or boxing, but isn't sure if they want to stick with it.

Year after year, juicers remain a popular tool in the kitchen to help us all get more fruits and vegetables into our diet. Out of the many juicers out there, what makes this one special? It promises that it's super-easy to clean -- which means you'll actually want to make juice every day -- and quieter than other machines. The Hurom purposely juices fruits and veggies at a slower pace so that you get every last drop of liquid.

For the avid runner, consider a pair of Nike's Joyride running shoes. They have thousands of tiny beads in the sole of the shoe that conform to your feet every time you take a step. Because of that, they have a great bouncy feel as you run. I wouldn't recommend these for a new runner, but anyone who's been running for while will appreciate this as a gift.

For that person in your life who really needs some relaxation, get them a weighted blanket. These hefty and cozy blankets feel like a hug and can help people who feel stressed to relax and even fall asleep. There are many weighted blankets out there -- some made specifically for kids, some that can replace your comforter, and some that are breathable and cooling to help you sleep.

My favorite is Bearaby's Napper blanket, which is knitted and looks so chic on a couch or bed -- I especially love their velvet option. You can also find plenty of high-quality weighted blankets for less, if the price is too steep.

OK, I know that most people would be downright offended if you gifted them a scale. But, if you are shopping for someone who is trying to lose weight and they want tools to help them with that, this is a good pick. The Eufy scale is easy to use, as is the companion app, which shows your weight, body mass, bone mass and more.

Check out more smart scales here.

Read more here:
Apple Watch, Fitbit, Theragun: The best holiday gifts to get healthy and stay that way - CNET

Global Wireless Health and Fitness Device Market 2019 report provides by Market Research Store is the representation of the Wireless Health and Fitness Device Market area through research, development and analysis of information from multiple sources. The Global Wireless Health and Fitness Device report bifurcates the Wireless Health and Fitness Device Market based on various parameters, including the nature of products and services, technology development and end-user applications for a better understanding of analytical data.

In the Wireless Health and Fitness Device Market 2019 research report professionals describe the different facets of the industry with a specific goal after assessing the key factors that could manipulate the development of the Wireless Health and Fitness Device Industry sector.

The global market 2019 report Global Wireless Health and Fitness Device Market includes identifying and comparing major competitors Abbott Laboratories, Adidas AG, Alive Technologies, Beuer GmbH, Entra Health Systems, Fitbit, Fitbug Limited, FitLinxx, Garmin Ltd, Humetrix, Ideal Life, Intelesens Ltd, Isansys Lifecare Ltd, Jawbone, Koninklijke Philips NV, Lumo BodyTech, Medtronic, Misfit, NeuroSky, Nike, Nonin Medical, Nuvon, Oregon Scientific, Polar Electro Oy, Sensei, Sotera Wireless, Suunto Oy, Toumaz UK Ltd, Wahoo Fitness, Withings SA,, who compete for the success of the business expansion and determine the global and regional market.

Download Sample Copy Of Report : http://www.mrsresearchgroup.com/report/148642#request-sample

Scope Of The Global Wireless Health and Fitness Device Industry 2019 Report

Based on the analysis, the Global Wireless Health and Fitness Device Market report provides an assessment of future trends and future changes in the market 2019. Researchers analyze data using different formulas and analytical tools and prepare the surveyed data and predictions of key participants with such as diagrams, graphs and statistics for a better and faster understanding.

Various methodological techniques, such as the SWOT analysis, investment return analysis are used to obtain correct informative data for the analysis of impending financial fluctuations in relation to the current trends of Wireless Health and Fitness Device market development.

The Global Wireless Health and Fitness Device Industry report provides survey data based on the regional market 2019

Do Inquiry For More Details : http://www.mrsresearchgroup.com/report/148642#inquiry-for-buying

Chapters Covered In Global Wireless Health and Fitness Device Industry 2019 :

Chapter 1: Introduction, Definition, Specifications, Classification and Scope the Wireless Health and Fitness Device market 2019Chapter 2: Exclusive Summery like Industry chain structure, Manufacturer cost structure, suppliers, etcChapter 3: Displays Trends, Drivers and Challenges of the Wireless Health and Fitness Device marketChapter 4: By the study of SWOT analysis it displays sales analysis, investment analysis, market analysis, etcChapter 5: It evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by manufacturers with revenue, share and sales by key countries in these various regions.Chapter 6: Evaluate the leading manufacturers of the Global Wireless Health and Fitness Device market which consists of its Competitive Landscape, Peer Group Analysis, BCG Matrix & Company ProfileChapter 7: Wireless Health and Fitness Device Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, system and information source

The report provides inclusive information to identify key market 2019 segments that help improve the quality of business decision-making based on sales, demand and production based on application-level analysis, and regional level. The report provides data analyzed graphically for a better explanation. Our experts have crafted the full study of Wireless Health and Fitness Device market 2019 in a structured format for better interpretation.

Excerpt from:
Global Wireless Health and Fitness Device Market 2019 Abbott Laboratories , Adidas AG , Alive Technologies , Beuer GmbH - Globe News Reports

A health and fitness vlogger has admitted to faking workouts after becoming addicted to a prescription stimulant that ruined her life.

Ashley Beeman, 34, runs the Fit + Fabulous blog, which encourages wellness through a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

But in 2015, she secretly got hooked on Adderall, a drug used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD) after being diagnosed by her doctor. The mother-of-two, from Arizona in the US, said the weight-loss results she achieved with the drug spurred her addiction as she dropped from 75kg to 58kg.

She admits to sharing misleading posts with her 32,000 social media followers during her addiction.

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I would fake my workouts for my social media followers and my business grew a ton, and I feel terrible about that now, she said. People were complimenting me which spurred me on and made me feel great. I thought I looked fantastic but I was just skin and bones.

Ms Beemans life quickly spiralled out of control as she began to run through her monthly prescription in just two weeks. She hit rock bottom when she ran out of Adderall at a family reunion and became so anxious she couldnt interact with her family.

In June 2016 she vowed to quit the controversial drug and after enduring a nightmare detox period, she is now celebrating three years without it.

With the support of her husband Dusty Beeman, 36, she came clean to her social media followers about her former addiction.

A year after I had given up I knew I had to come clean on my Facebook page, Ms Beeman, mum of kids Dylan, 8, and Davin, 6, said.

I had pretended to be living this really healthy lifestyle to all my followers and I owed them an explanation, she said. I went live on Facebook and I received such a warm reaction. Everyone was really supportive and they started sharing their own struggles with Adderall.

When I first got clean I felt guilty but now Ive tried to forgive myself and move on. Now I genuinely love to work out and eat well, she explained.

During her addiction, Ms Beeman says she was terrified of running out of Adderall.

I would lie to pharmacists and doctors, she confessed. I would make up ridiculous excuses like I dropped my prescription script into the lake and they would just give me another.

On Adderall I would hardly sleep. I would be up all night staring at the ceiling. Sometimes I would have a few glasses of wine just to get to sleep, she said. I was always constipated. Sometimes I wouldnt have a bowel movement for up to two weeks at a time.

I wasnt focused on my family in any way, she continued. When I was on Adderall I was selfish. I was just living my life and I wasnt present for my children. I wouldnt spend time with them.

I feel like Ive missed a lot of memories with my youngest one. I became obsessed with my business. I felt like I was being really productive but in reality I probably was just a tornado. I would jump from task to task maniacally.

Ms Beeman described her comedowns as a nightmare and said she would spend days vomiting and shaking until she could get a new fix.

I went to Cancun at the end of March 2015 for a conference. I was really anxious and I ended up taking my whole prescription early on in the trip. I didnt think I could do it without Adderall, she recalled.

I had to get a flight home to Arizona without Adderall and it was awful. Youre so, so tired and you cant eat enough food, she said. You throw up and you shiver. Your heart feels like its going to jump out of your chest.

In 2016, she realised it was time to seek help.

I explained to a new doctor that I really wanted to get off Adderall because it was ruining my life, Ms Beeman explained. We did my blood work and it turned out I had Hashimotos, an auto-immune condition and hyperthyroidism that may have been the cause of all of my symptoms in the first place. I think I was misdiagnosed with ADD.

So I went cold turkey on Adderall. It was such a hard transition. I was so unwell. In the first three weeks I put on 9kg, which was devastating for me at that time, (as) my view of my body had become so warped.

But I didnt want to go back so I pushed forward. I wanted to experience my life. But I craved Adderall so much for a long time. I had to work a lot on body positivity and finding an inner worth that didnt depend on my looks or my weight. I weigh 68kg now and Ive learned to love my body.

It wasnt always great. My first year off Adderall I still punished myself with crazy diets but I dont do that anymore. I hate looking back at photos of myself during that time because I dont look good, even though I thought I looked amazing.

When I watch old videos, you can tell by my eyes Im not really there.

Now, Ms Beeman feels shes truly present with her family and business once again.

She said: Ive worked hard to make memories with my children in the present. I hardly remember ever playing with them while I was on Adderall. Now family is my priority.

Here is the original post:
Health and fitness blogger faked workouts due to drug addiction - NEWS.com.au

STRICTLY Come Dancing star Kevin Clifton has worried fans after sharing a heartbreaking post hinting at his mental health struggles.

The dancer took to social media with a candid quote from new comic book movie Joker.

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It said: "The worst part about having a mental illness is people expect you to behave as it you don't."

Kevin's fans then rushed to the comments section, with many begging the 37-year-old to ask for help if he needs it.

One said: "How very true....unfortunately. Hope you're ok?"

Another added: "You ok kevin. Speak out if you need help."

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A third commented: "Thank you @keviclifton for thanking about mental health and mental ill health.

"The more people talk about it hopefully the more we can reduce stigma so more people feel able to ask for help."

Kevin and his partner Anneka Rice were voted off Strictly last week after failing to impress the judges.

And he didn't react too well that he had to leave the show - declaring I told you so after the result of the dance-off was announced.

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It was a nod to his pre-series prediction hed struggle to get the TV veteran up to scratch on the dance floor.

Kevin and Annekas routine left the judges poking fun at the Kill Bill- themed dance, which Bruno Tonioli said theyd slaughtered, and which earned them just 11 points from a possible 40.

They lost in a dance-off to ex-England goalkeeper David James, 49, and his partner Nadiya Bychkova, 30,

A Strictly insider said: Kevin adores Anneka as a person but professionally he knew his chances of making another final were over, especially as shes struggled with injury and fitness.

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Going out in the second week was humiliating for him. In his eyes hes King Kev and hes done phenomenal routines with his previous partners.

Hes got a friend for life in Anneka and he loved working with her. But this series is one he wants to forget.

Before they crashed out of the competition, former TV presenter Anneka, 61, said shed found training murder and showed off nasty bruising from her training sessions with Kevin, 36.

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Kevin will now participate in group dances and the pros performances.

Got a story? email digishowbiz@the-sun.co.uk or call us direct on 02077824220.

We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.

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Strictlys Kevin Clifton worries fans as he opens up about mental health struggle in heartbreaking post - The Sun

NEW DELHI:After investing time and money in engineering, Abhishek Dhama, 28, realised that he didnt want to end up like a corporate slave. He took over his family occupation of farming but with a modern approach. The benefits were plenty decent earning, healthy living and fulfilment of his long-pending dream of starting a fitness venture.

Dressed in black joggers, T-shirt and sports shoes, Abhishek is not the usual run-of-the-mill farmers family, he says, also had a stereotypical idea about a farmer. But, he never wanted to be a farmer who labours for hours without getting dues.

There is a general perception that a farmer is despondent, that he works hard, wears white clothes, and lives poorly. I studied engineering because thats what all my friends were doing. There was a craze about engineering but I realised that I didnt want to do a 9 to 5 job, says Abhishek, who graduated in electronics engineering in 2014 from Maharishi Dayanand University.

An interest in health, sports and fitness drove him to online research for organic farming, but his family wasnt convinced.

I was always inclined towards sports and fitness. Somehow, I could not pursue a career in cricket. I was a fast bowler but due to a tragedy in the family, I couldnt pursue it, he says. My family objected as they felt I was wasting my degree. They still dont seem to be convinced even as I earn Rs 40,000 to 60,000 daily depending on crop schedule.

Had I taken up an engineers job, I would have earned that much too. But by the age of 40-45, they (corporates) are dealing with diseases due to unhealthy lifestyle. I didnt want that for myself. I dont want that for others either, thus I encourage organic farming.

Being a vegetarian, Abhishek felt it was significant to make it up for the absence of animal protein in his diet.I began with a kitchen garden in one acre. The produce was distributed to our relatives and friends. There was a difference in taste and quality.

Today, Abhishek uses 14 acre of the familys 25-acre land for organic farming. The remaining plot is usually flooded by the Yamuna.

A tie-up with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) provides him the farming expertise, while vendors help him to sell his produce. I researched extensively on YouTube and workers.

From C Map Lucknow, he took training in cultivation and processing of medicinal and aromatic plants.There is a perception that organic farming is an elite venture. This myth needs to be changed. Thats why I sell organic produce at the same rate as greens that are produced using chemicals.

Farmers either keep growing the same vegetable for years or grow only one variety in their plot. Thats why they fail to get what they deserve despite all their hard work, says Abhishek as he advocates changes in farming to bring about change in fortunes of farmers across the country.

Go here to read the rest:
This Delhi based engineer takes up family business of farming but with a modern touch - The New Indian Express

A health and fitness influencer has admitted faking her workouts to hide a secret addiction which 'ruined her life'.

Ashley Beeman is a vlogger who runs a ' Fit and Fabulous ' blog giving tips on how to maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

The 34-year-old has now admitted sharing misleading posts with her 32,000 social media followers after becoming addicted to a prescription drug she was given for attention deficit disorder (ADD) in 2015.

The mum-of-two said the weight loss results she achieved after being prescribed Adderall spurred on her addiction as she she dropped more than 16kg.

"I would fake my workouts for my social media followers and my business grew a ton, and I feel terrible about that now," said Ashley from Arizona.

"People were complimenting me which spurred me on and made me feel great.

"I thought I looked fantastic but I was just skin and bones."

Ashley's life quickly spiralled out of control as she began using her monthly prescription in just two weeks.

The addiction hit rock bottom when she ran out of the drug at a family reunion and became so anxious she couldn't interact with those closest to her.

She's now celebrating three years without the drug after enduring a 'nightmare' detox and has admitted the truth to her social media followers.

"A year after I had given up I knew I had to come clean on my Facebook page," she said.

"I had pretended to be living this really healthy lifestyle to all my followers and I owed them an explanation.

"I went live on Facebook and I received such a warm reaction. Everyone was really supportive and they started sharing their own struggles with Adderall.

"When I first got clean I felt guilty but now I've tried to forgive myself and move on.

"Now I genuinely love to work out and eat well."

Ashley is now focused on making up for lost time with her husband Dusty and children Dylan, eight, and Davin, six.

"I wasn't focused on my family in any way," she explained.

"When I was on Adderall I was selfish. I was just living my life and I wasn't present for my children. I wouldn't spend time with them.

"I feel like I've missed a lot of memories with my youngest one. I became obsessed with my business.

"I felt like I was being really productive but in reality I probably was just a tornado.

"I hate looking back at photos of myself during that time because I don't look good, even though I thought I looked amazing.

"When I watch old videos, you can tell by my eyes I'm not really there."

Ashley says she's had to do a lot of work on body positivity after putting on 20lbs in the first three weeks of quitting the drug, which she says was 'devastating' because her view of her physique had become so warped.

It also took time for her to stop 'crazy' diets and has now learned to love her body.

Ashley believes she was misdiagnosed with ADD after filing out a simple quiz at the doctors and says the drug is 'too easy to get' and needs to be taken more seriously after it took over her life.

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CBD, a compound found in cannabis and hemp, zoomed from obscurity to omnipresence with breathtaking speed.

Relatively unknown just a few years ago, CBD-infused balms, said to help relieve pain and anxiety, now are prominently displayed at CVS pharmacies and Sprouts groceries. CBD shops have opened in Old Town and Pacific Beach, while CBD tinctures, bath salts, vaping cartridges, transdermal patches and other items are hawked at gas stations, farmers markets and across the internet.

Claims for these itemss health benefits range from the fraudulent in July, the FDA warned a Massachusetts company to stop advertising its CBD nostrums as treatments for cancer, dementia and Parkinsons disease to the extravagant. A New York firm, Voesh, markets $500 CBD-treated collagen gloves as a way to deliver an intense dose of moisture and visibly restore skins youthfulness.

CBD is this generations snake oil, said John Ayers, a UC San Diego Department of Medicine faculty member. Its sold as a cure-all.

CBDs are easily found, but research on this substance is not. Reputable studies are scarce and inconclusive. In an odd twist, regulation is spotty except in marijuana dispensaries. CBD products sold in pot shops often contain significant levels of THC, the compound that makes users high, and are tightly monitored and subject to rigorous testing. CBD items sold elsewhere, with only trace amounts of THC, have no such requirements.

And these tinctures, salves, sprays, gummies and caramels are not always what they claim to be. In May, Miramars Infinite Chemical Analysis Lab was hired by Torrey Holistics, a marijuana dispensary, to check a dozen CBD products sold on the open market.

Homogenization tech Desmond Samarripa weighs out CBD isolate at the Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs in Mira Mesa on Thursday October 17, 2019.

(John Gibbins / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Infinite Chemical found that 11 of the 12 did not contain the level of CBDs claimed on the label. The most blatant offenders, a hemp cream alleging 1,000 mg of CBD and a hemp extract boasting 3,000 mg of CBD, had none.

Worse, three products including a CBD lip balm advertised as all natural and chemical free were laced with pesticides.

Its kind of like the Wild West right now, said Jayneil Kamdar, Infinite Chemicals lab manager.

There are no regulations in place now for CBDs, added Mickey Wilbanks, the companys public relations representative. You really dont have to get tested for pesticides or heavy metals.

While unscrupulous CBD companies may overpromise, other converts to the cause insist that this compound holds extraordinary promise.

We have an opiod epidemic raging, said Klee Irwin, founder of a Los Angeles nutraceutical company, Irwin Naturals. In America, we are over-medicating ourselves. We are four and one half percent of the worlds population, yet we are consuming 80 percent of the worlds medications.

Paul Klotar, the San Diego-based co-founder of Seabedee, notes that his companys most popular products are used for pain or anxiety relief. Tinctures and gummies contain CBDs, trace amounts of THC no more than .3 percent by volume and terpenes, elements extracted from lavender plants, lemon and pine trees and other natural sources.

All, Klotar said, help chill you out, calm you down.

Darius Allensworth, a former college and Canadian Football League player, said CBD oils help him combat persistent inflammation.

People dont get how consistent pain can be for athletes, Allensworth said, who was a cornerback on the UC Berkeley team from 2014 through 2017. Were expected to just play through it.

Yet Allensworth was leery of painkillers, having been prescribed these medications after a high school knee injury.

It felt like I was floating off my bed, he said.

Worried that painkillers could cause long-term damage to his body, Allensworth was relieved when he discovered CBD. I felt like I had a lot more energy, said Allensworth, now a partner in Seabedee. Theres no crash after using it.

The NCAA bans the of CBD and other cannabinoids by college athletes, but the World Anti-Doping Agency recently lifted its prohibition of these substances. Companies like San Diegos Nanocraft CBD hope to appeal to health-and-fitness enthusiasts, marketing this product as an effective way to combat pain and anxiety, without the mind-altering effects of marijuana.

We try and create products around different areas and each one of them is geared toward health, said CEO Stefan McKellar.

Yet industry figures admit they walk a fine line when touting the benefits of their products.

There is a big disclaimer with everything you say in the CBD world, Klotar said. We are not doctors. We are not prescribing this to you. But this may help you. You can give it a shot.

What, though, is in that shot?

Seabedees Anxiety Blend CBD oil comes in a box marked with a QR barcode. When scanned, it downloads a report from Infinity Chemical Analysis, giving THC and CBD levels from this units batch. (When the Union-Tribune tried this, it found that there were 544.2 miligrams of CBDs per unit, somewhat more than 500 miligrams listed on the box.)

Also listed: terpenes. This particular batch contained limonene, a compound extracted from the skins of citrus fruit. The report also noted the absence of residual solvents, microbials, pesticides and heavy metals.

Many CBD companies dont have their products tested, said Infinity Chemicals co-founder David Marelius, and those that do often have limited aims.

Usually, Marelius said, CBD products are just noting potency only. If they are actually doing safety testing, thats a big plus.

Another big plus, said John Rost, would be more regulations for manufacturers.

They could be making it in a crock pot in their kitchen and youd never know, said Rost, owner of Thrive CBD in Pacific Beach.

While critical of many in the industry, Rost is a believer. After knee surgery more than a decade ago, Rost found that a Swiss company was selling a then-obscure treatment.

I couldnt believe how well it worked, he said. It helped me sleep as well, and I wasnt drowsy the next day. I was not worrying about so many things.

Today, Rost runs a factory in Santa Ana, where he extracts CBD from industrial hemp and then packages his products. Unlike many manufacturers, he would like to see more regulation, in part to drive out the industrys bad actors.

You see some products that are mislabeled, Rost said. A lot of companies are just in this for the fad.

Samples were lined up on a gas chromatograph spectrometer at the Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs in Mira Mesa on Thursday, October 17, 2019.

(John Gibbins / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

CBD is shrouded in mystery, in part due to federal law classifying all cannabis-derived compounds as controlled substances. That changed with the 2018 Farm Bill, which removed restrictions on CBD research. Those studies, though, are still in their infancy.

As a result, said San Diego State Universitys Joy Phillips, most of what we know about CBD is anecdotal.

People are having to test this stuff on themselves, said Phillips, an immunologist, because yahoos like me are being prevented from doing basic research saying, Hey! This is where it works. This is where it doesnt. And oh my gosh, this is where its dangerous. I think we should test this somewhere other than on loved ones in the first round.

So far, the FDA has licensed only one CBD drug, Epidiolex, a treatment for rare forms of epilepsy.

Into the void created by the lack of authoritative studies, charlatans have rushed in.

This year, a Washington company marketed its CBD gels as a viable option for minimizing the debilitating side-effects of Alzheimers disease. A New Jersey firm advertised its CBD salves and oils as an effective remedy for cervical cancer, depression and psychosis. A Florida company selling organic CBD hemp oils cited an abundance of evidence to support the use of CBD as an anti-cancer agent.

All of these claims were disputed by the FDA, which sent each company a warning letter demanding they halt these campaigns.

Yet the outlandish, unfounded claims continue, racing far ahead of science.

The fundamental health questions, UC San Diegos Ayers said, remain unanswered.

Union-Tribune intern Hafsa Fathima contributed to this story.,

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CBDs: a 'Wild West' of wild claims - The San Diego Union-Tribune