I was at a very crowded Powells Books in Portland last weekend and watched one 22-ish woman hold up a copy of an Eckhart Tolle paperback and solemnly say to her 22ish friend, Read this. It will change your life.

Ive never read anything by Eckhart Tolle, but I know the authors name from having seen it in airport bookstores for the last several years. Vaguely self-help, I think? Maybe business related? Or spiritual? Whatever the classification, I just have a sense his (her?) books wont be to my taste, primarily because theyre satisfying to so many people. This bias doesnt obtain with music, films, or TV, but somehow, books for everyonethe kind of books read by people who only read those kind of booksarent for me.

Id always assumed thats what The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time was, too: An airport book. Something like self-help or get ahead in business or Buddhism for Capitalists or Who Moved My Cheese or whatever. Turns out its actually a novel, and that novel is a family drama disguised as a mystery story, and its also a play, and that play was a huge hit on Broadway that won Tony awards a couple years back and the touring version is at the Paramount through this weekend.

It also turns out that the production stirs up lots of interesting questions and dilemmas relating to one of the central preoccupations people have about performed art these daysrepresentation. (To that end, its also dotted with potentially problematic elements to do with same.) Its also a showcase for staggeringly effective and versatile stage design.

Its also an efficient and oddly affecting variation on the sentimental treatment of redemptive family love that prevails in most narrative storytelling. Its also funny. Its also humane. Its also very good, in the same sense that Elvis Costello once shamed a journalist who had just impugned ECs then-new writing partner by asking, compared to whom is Paul McCartney not good?

It has a good premise, a good story, good acting, good staging, good craft, good sound design, good light design, and lots of other good things. Its very good, very pro, and very, you know, worth the $40-$85 it will cost you to get your hands on a ticket to any of the five remaining performances.

Still, I did find myself wondering as the play went onhow the hell did this play win Tonys? What is it about this relatively simple story that strikes a chord among so many people (five million copies of the book have sold to date, the Broadway production ran for four years). And when it was over, and the obligatory Seattle standing ovation creaked to its feet, I found I still didnt quite know.

Was it the inversion of the classic expectations of a protagonist? The story is motorized by a young man named Christopher (played the night I saw it by Adam Langdon) who is either autistic or has Aspergers (the book is apparently intentionally vague on this point, and the play doesnt specify either)but who, in any case, echoes the familiar Rain Man-nish traits of not being able to read social cues, make prolonged eye contact, or to bear any kind of human physical contact beyond a gradual palm-to-palm touch with his parents. (Hes more comfortable cuddling dogs and rats.)

Christopher also speaks in a clipped, nasal, robot voice with musical inflections played for comic effect. Hes also exceptionally good at math(sthe play takes place in England) and is reduced to screaming fits by the interruption of his routine. In short, he presents a broad, intentionally comic figure, in contrast to the normal world of people who surround him.

When he discovers the murdered body of the titular dog in his neighbors garden, he embarks on an investigation that leads him into traumatic adventures that reveal uncomfortable truths about his immediate world. These discoveries change everything about his situation, but they dont change him. They cant.

Hence, what we expect from a drama of this kind (and maybe, in a larger sense, what we want from all stories) is necessarily subverted, and not unproductively.

Christophers unconventional mien makes the background charactershis mother, father, teacher, neighbors, and various ancillary figures, all ingeniously portrayed by an ensemblethe real story, as they respond in a variety of ways to someone whose capacity for relation is categorically alien to theirs.

But Christopher is always at the physical center of everything. His impulses and responses propel the plot and define the people, but more to the point, the whole play is staged as a kind of recreation from his memory, and with his frequent comical intervention.

The set, three massive walls with thrilling light and video capabilities, with compartments that open into cubby holes, and a series of modular boxes that are used as various props, is apparently meant to evoke both his mania for order, and the natural chaos that follows from an effort to rationalize an inherently disordered world. It's an IKEA of the mind that also serves, alternately, as graph paper, JumboTron, and cage. Honestly, it's worth seeing the show just to see the set.

The choreography and interaction with this set is always inventive and often sublime, creating an almost Escherian dimension of space and motion that constantly enlivens the narrative.

Maybe that was the source of my quandary: Not that what I was seeing wasnt a pleasure to see. It was. But I did have a recurring sense that the constant need to enliven the narrative meant that the narrative was itself not massively interesting. Which, to be totally candid, I kind of admire.

Stories arent everything. And a play that seeks to convey the inner life of a boy who is essentially a cipher represents an audacious effort to liberate the theatrical experiencespecifically the big, mainstream Broadway version of itfrom the mere telling of a story. (That might also account from why so many people ditched the show at intermission.) Im on board for that kind of liberation as a rule.

On the other hand, though, you could be forgiven for thinking that all the stuff of the show was a fancy way of unspooling a somewhat ordinary suburban family melodrama. And they even have the cheapest theatrical trick of all time: a live puppy.

And then theres the matter of Christopher himself, whosewhat is the right word? Condition? Attunement? Situation?is played broadly for laughs that sometimes feelagain, what is the right word? Uncomfortable? Irresponsible? Problematic? Gimmicky?

I should emphasize that I cant tell whether the contemporary mania for identifying the offensive in public discourse has clouded my judgment on this point, but I definitely had that thing of unconsciously looking over my shoulder to make sure I hadnt committed some moral breach by laughing at the odd laugh line that issued from the disjunction between Christopher and polite society.

But more meaningfully: Certain crucial moments of attempted connection suffer for the broadness of the character's construction; I found myself recalling George, a wrenching documentary about the challenges of parenting an autistic childthe reference is obscure, but it felt significant that I saw the film once in 2001 and remembered it vividly during this show.

Then again, Adam Langdons performance was unquestionably skillful, consistent, and, if you can say this about the portrayal of a character whose relationship to feeling itself is inherently muted and inarticulate, empathetic. The real subject of this play is Christophers vulnerability, which is an inherent generator of dramaeven if the story and characters that rub up against that vulnerability arent terribly fascinating to begin with.

Maybe thats why its so popular. It puts the audience in the same position not as the main character, but as the ensemble: We yearn to connect with someone who cant receive that connection on our familiar terms, and we find that we are pulling for him, even loving him, anyway.

This stands in stark contrast to the other touring Broadway show about unconventional families available to Seattle audiences this month. When the lights went down on Fun Home, I rocketed to my feet, smear the tears and snot away from my raw-skinned, red face in the process, certain that Id seen something entirely new (no, not just a musical with good songs) on a stage, and avid, almost desperate, to go see it again. Which I did, a few nights later.

I wouldnt run to see The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time a second time. But Im glad I saw it once, if only because it helped me remember that even airport novels can contain something beautiful.

Who would read them if they didnt?

Continued here:
Review: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Is an Unexpected Source of Beauty and Invention - TheStranger.com

May we all practice self-compassion. (Photo: Vinoth Chandar)

Recently, during a journaling exercise, I listed characteristics that I find interesting and admirable in other people.

Next, stream-of-consciousness-style, I wrote qualities about myself. And when I reread my scribbles, I was surprised; the majority of the words on the page weren't positive.

They weren't terrible, and some were sort of neutral. It's not like I wrote "selfish, ignorant, horrible hobag" about myself. But my inner critic was all over the page.

It was jarring because I'd like to think that I'm fairly realistic about who I am and also that I have relatively healthy self-esteem.

I told my therapist about this, and she guided me through a practice. She asked me to think of a person or animal that I loved and valued unconditionally. My marvelous sister, Meghan, immediately came to mind.

Since the moment my sister was born, I've loved her in the sweetest, most special, practically indescribable way.

My therapist told me to think about that feeling and describe how it felt.

I struggled; I rambled words I don't remember, so she stopped me andasked me to feel it instead of trying to describe it.

I sat quietly and thought about Meghan. My chest filled with joy, comfort, ease, affection, gratitude, kindness. I was overcome with the most precious, pure love I can imagine.

Next, my therapist asked me to turn those feelings on myself.

Wow. That was something I'd never done. I had never thought about it like that.

This experience got me thinking about self-compassion, which is practiced through mindfulness.

So I sought out esteemed practitioners and teachers Janka Livoncova and Upasaka Paul to help me understand self-compassion.

"Compassion is a response to suffering,"Livoncova said.

Initially, I was confused, because I connected suffering to somethingheartbreakinga death, for example.

But I thought about it more and remembered that suffering is part of the natural human condition.

Eckhart Tolle discusses this in "A New Earth." He describes "our inherited dysfunction."

Much of this suffering comes from the stories we tell ourselves and reactions to situations.

Livoncova explained this to me using the analogy of getting hit by two darts.

A person is struck by a first dart.

"When you are struck by a dart, that's painful," she said. "That pain is inevitable. It hurts our body."

Then, the person is hit by the second dart.

With the second dart comes emotional pain.

Instead of taking the darts out and caring for the wounds, the mind starts spinning.

Who did this to me? Why is this happening? This is so unfair! I'm going to get whoever hit me with these darts!

My thoughts about what I wrote in my journal caused suffering, like the second dart.

Why did I just write these words about myself? What does this mean? I must hate myself deep down. This is an upsetting thing. This is something I need to fix.

That's a relatively simple example, but as I've written before, the thoughts in our heads are not our true selves, and the ego thrives on the negative stories we tell ourselves.

"There are so many ways we create our own suffering," Paul said. "It's not necessarily that we are doing that purposely ... We live with this notion that the way out of suffering is to keep in all the good stuff and keep out the bad stuff."

Livoncova and my therapist echoed these ideas. We don't like to be uncomfortable. We definitely don't want to suffer.

My mindfulness practice has helped me identify negative self-talk. But I generally catch myself in midthought. And, more often than not, I judge myself for having the thoughts.

Livoncova said that judgment is an attempt to avoid suffering, but it only adds to it.

I've been working on mindfulness and meditation for years now, and I still struggle with a central part of the practice: acceptance.

"The experience of compassionit's acceptance of everything as it is," Paul said.

It's accepting that you've been hit by two darts. It's treating and enduring the reality of the situation in each moment.

"It feels unbearable, but I can be with everything for one breath,"Livoncova said. "It's when we say ... 'I cannot bearthis' [that suffering comes]."

The good news, which bothLivoncova and Paul noted, is that, through practice, we can become more compassionate toward ourselves and others.

I think the reason I've struggled with this so far is because I was thinking too much. I was struggling to find the answer with my brain.

"Mindfulness cannot be ... learned by reading a book or talking about it,"Livoncova said. "Through experience, it can be realized."

Paul also expressed that practicing compassion is more about the feeling. We may use words to try to describe the experience, but we should practice turning our attention to the feelings, just as my therapist had me do.

One of the meditation practices that can cultivate compassion is loving-kindness, which I wrote about here.

The words said and thought during this type of practice may vary. And although it's nice to think that if we just repeat the words, self-compassion will somehow appear, that's not how it works.

"It's not about saying the words, it's about the experience," Paul said.

The reminder to focus on the feelinglike the wonderful sensation I have when I think about my sisteris paramount.

I can easily summon that fondness and warmth when I think about her.

So, if you need me, I'll be practicing sitting with that feeling and directing it toward myself.

What would happen if we all learned to do that?

The opinions expressed in this column belong solely to the author, notNooga.comor its employees.

Original post:
Learning self-compassion - Nooga.com

I am watching my daughter transform before my eyes. Slowly slipping away is the younger 11 year old who might still be found enjoying an episode of Sophia the First, and appearing in her place is an almost teenager who is content to be alone in her room for hours at a time. Shell be 12 in a matter of weeks and she is responsible and delightful and thoughtful and stubborn and determined and moody. Its a custom blend that presents itself differently every day.

And it is so hard to know just who is going through a bigger change, me or her?

It started a year and a half ago when I reluctantly passed the baton of favored parent to my husband. In the early days of this blatant change of allegiance, I failed miserably at trying not to let my disappointment show whenever the question was posed: Want to ride with me or Daddy? Or: Want to sit next to me or Daddy? (her answer, unceasingly, Daddy). I had long forgotten that I, too, had gone through this very transition, seeking my fathers guidance and input during these critical years of 11 - 14, until a wise sage of a friend pointed out to me that yes, this is actually a very important part of a young girls development.

Im still needed, but my offers to help are being denied in increasing increments. The concentric circle of a boundary that surrounds her has gotten bigger and I am having to step back and respect that more than I am accustomed to. Shes gotten good at no thank you. I gave her that: No means no. And: Never do anything you dont want to do. She models this beautifully. I just didnt anticipate that I would be the thing she doesnt want to do or be seen with. And I must be a slow learner because Im just now able to get out of the car and not automatically reach for her hand.

Her independence and growing autonomy in general has arrived at a perfect time, actually. I have become so thoroughly (and happily) consumed by the world of kindred, thrilled with how it continues to stretch into new territories and grow in numbers. So in this sense it is good that my day no longer revolves around keeping her entertained and busy.

Even still I didnt truly awaken to the depth of my internal conflict until, on a recent vacation, I started reading the brilliant work of Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth. Awakening to Your Lifes Purpose. I stared at the ocean from the balcony every morning, reading and contemplating just how intricately woven my identity was with mom. My ego latched onto that title eleven years ago and it is still dragging around skills from that era that are not only no longer needed, but earn me such classic responses as the dramatic eye roll and the exasperated (but perfected) two syllable Moh-ohm". Im no longer the protector of playground dangers, the fruit and vegetable nutrition expert or the one to remind her to bring a sweater because itll be cold in the restaurant. And yet it is so entrenched in me that I am having to work really hard at turning it off.

In the quiet calm of those peaceful mornings, the sound of the ocean relentlessly rumbling to the shore, Eckhart taught me about ego and presence. My daughter needs one thing and one thing only right now - my presence. Undiluted, concentrated attention. I need to look at her, take notice of the small things, observe every nuance of change. She is working on new skills, navigating unknown terrain and like every middle school child, finding her identity. These are opportunities for new seeds to be planted - ones that will take her into adulthood.

I made myself a solemn vow in the presence of the vastness of the sea. To let go of my ego, to let go of control, to support and honor and cherish. To let her make her own mistakes, standing by at the ready to console and wipe tears and hold tight. The training wheels are off now. It is her own path and destiny to follow. I will give my daughter my presence. I will seek out and treasure these moments. Shine on, my girl, I whispered, shine on. I will always be here for you.

K. Cooper

Does someone you know need these wordstoday?

____________________________________________________

kindred shares true stories to heal, inspire and encourage + dedicates profits for organic giving just when it is needed it most. join us, wont you?

____________________________________________________

kindred | facebook | medium | twitter | k@wearekindred.org

The Morning Email

Wake up to the day's most important news.

Read more here:
The Gift of Presence. - HuffPost

PLATTSBURGH The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will host several events over the course of August. All are open to the public, free and at 4 Palmer St., unless otherwise noted.

Thursday, Aug. 3, 12:15 p.m. Quiche et Crepe, 164 Boynton Ave., Plattsburgh. First Thursday UU Ladies Luncheon. Bring money for lunch and join the conversation. Contact Mary Jane Miranda at 518-5615124.

Sunday, Aug. 6, 11 a.m. Meacham Lake Campground, Paul Smiths. Building Bridges. A joint church service between the Plattsburgh, Canton and Saranac Lake Unitarian Universalist congregations. For those unable to make the journey, an alternate service will be held at 10 a.m. at 4 Palmer St.

Wednesday, Aug. 9, 1:30 p.m. UU Book Club. Guests are invited to share a book theyve recently read.

Sunday, Aug. 13, 10 a.m. The Blessings of the Sangha. Luis Sierra will lead the congregation in an exploration of the Sangha, a community of people who, in the Buddhist tradition, agree to practice living a conscious life rooted in kindness, understanding and acceptance. A Sangha creates safe space to explore what it means to live an awakened life, finding support and encouragement from others who are similarly committed.

Wednesday, Aug. 16, 7:30 p.m. A Course in Miracles. For more information, contact Diana Wardell, 518-645-1930.

Sunday, Aug. 20, 10 a.m. Born Again UU! Mark Berninghausen, from the Canton Unitarian Universalist Church, will share how his attending the Unitarian Universalist Associations General Assembly last year increased his connection and inspiration to the UU world.

Sunday, Aug. 27, 10 a.m. The Rev. Christina Sillari. Sillari, from First Parish, a UU congregation in Portland, Maine, will deliver the sermon.

Monday, Aug. 28, noon. Forget-Me-Nots Brown Bag Lunch. Guests are invited to bring lunch and join in the conversation.

Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Search for Meaning Discussion Group. An evening of personal growth and a chance to join others in the search for truth and meaning. This fall, the group read and explore A New Earth: Awakening to your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle, author of The Power of Now.

Read this article:
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship lists August events - Plattsburgh Press Republican

Make traffic your jam by using your drive time to your advantage.

By Jennifer Worick

Special to The Seattle Times Jobs

Traffic in Seattle is a drag, no doubt about it.

But there are ways to quell your angst and rage. Leverage your commute time in powerful ways. And now that the distracted-driving law is in effect, its time to put down your device and devise a better way to use your commute. It can often be found time in an otherwise busy day.

Present yourself. You may not want to be present to the traffic jam youre in, but listening to an Eckhart Tolle or similar book can help center you for the workday. And if that doesnt work, youll be sufficiently distracted by his unique accent.

Podcast intelligently. Before you take to the road, cue up a smart podcast for your drive. Check out Entrepreneur on Fire (a daily podcast by John Lee Dumas), the HBR Ideacast (a weekly podcast from the Harvard Business Review), or The $100 MBA (a daily podcast that offers lessons on business, marketing, tech and more).

Run down your to-do list. Get a jump on your morning by thinking about your to-do list, both immediate concerns as well as longer-term projects. Come up with three things you want to accomplish before lunch.

Create a mantra. Is there a phrase that centers your or helps you keep things in perspective? Breathe in and out slowly and repeat your mantra. Youll arrive at the office calm and centered, despite the backup on I-405.

Plan a vacation. Preferably one without road congestion. Work and traffic might be bringing you down, but planning the details of your next holiday in Reykjavik can lift you up where you belong.

Rehearse. Get your talking points in order. Whether its an important presentation or just a one-on-one with an employee or client, practice aloud and refine your key messaging.

Call your mentor or mentee.Use your hands-free device to check in with an aspirational figure to start or end your day on a high note. Think about a professional challenge that you can parse out with your mentor, or ask your mentee if they have any issues theyd like to discuss.

Keep your mind sharp. Expand your mind with podcasts like Wait Wait Dont Tell Me! or Stuff Your Should Know, or brush up on a foreign language with one of the many podcasts available for download. Try Radio Lingua if you want to improve your French, Spanish or German.

These self-improvement tactics may not make your commute go any faster, but they could certainly speed up your career.

Jennifer Worick is a veteran freelancer/contractor, publishing consultant and New York Times bestselling author. Email her at jen@jenniferworick.com.

See the original post:
Hate your Seattle commute? Use it to your benefit - Seattle Times

A little over a year ago, I was rather forced into signing up to Facebook because videos of some newly born puppies I was considering were being posted there each week.

I, of course, was curious to watch the progress of their growth and to see these beautiful babies play and interact. Unfortunately, it was clear that other posts on Facebook began distracting me from my immediate purpose, and, before I knew it, I was seduced.

It wasn't long before I began seeing those images of animal abuse appearing suddenly before my eyes. Even after scrolling by as quickly as possible, I couldn't get those images out of my head. I just didn't want to see those tragic pictures reaching out to me first thing in the morning. Like everyone else in the world, they are images I never want to see and attempt to forget, however futile.

Passle and her service dog Fenway(Photo provided)

Nonetheless, as much as I want to avoid this reality, it is absolutely my obligation to confront this unthinkable cruelty. We all have to. We have to absorb it, feel it and believe it and do whatever we can to stop it from ever happening!

Unfortunately, those people who really need these reminders are probably too heartless to even acknowledge the cruel part they play. I know I'm repeating myself when I say that these same people who are willing to abuse animals will do the same to people.

In his book "Guardians of Being: Spiritual Teachings From Our Dogs and Cats," Eckhart Tolle reminds us of our connections to our pets:

"When you pet a dog or listen to a cat purring, thinking may subside for a moment and a space of stillness arises within you, a doorway into being."

Alas, gratefully there is also an abundance of videos and images on Facebook that represent the beauty, sensitivity, humor, intelligence and importance of animals. Videos and images that make us laugh and cry and touch our souls because there is something there, in the animals that is deeper than just fun and adorable creatures. Something that is innately a part of us. Shared energy. Shared life force. Most of us know this, and thankfully there are more of those heart filled videos than the bad.

This past spring, my friend Passle lost her service dog from old age. This dog, for the past 12 years, was Passle's eyes, helping her to maneuver through the day and alerting her to every possible danger that might be present in her daily life. I was thrilled then to see on Facebook the happy photo of Passle with her new service dog, Fenway, someone she will literally be trusting with her life.

Then there was the posting of the soldier who had returned from a war zone, and like so many others traumatized by the brutalities of war, he ended up with PTSD. His life was a series of blackouts that led to falling over and potential injury. Dog to the rescue. This man's remarkable dog was able to detect when these blackouts were going to occur, and the dog would stand on his hind legs, front paws on the man's chest, letting him know he needs to sit down before he falls down. If you think animals are "just" animals, think again.

Eckhart Tolle: "Every being is a spark of the Divine or God. Look into the eyes of the dog and sense that innermost core."

We've all heard the stories. A cat howls in the middle of the night waking his family when a house was on fire. Dogs used to find people lost in the wilderness or under debris of a bombed-out building. The stories involving the lives saved by animals are endless.

Eckhart Tolle: "The vital function that pets fulfill in this world hasn't been fully recognized. They keep millions of people sane."

I've seen how my own animals respond to my moods. My cat Willow always shows up to sit and listen when I play the piano. The other day my golden wouldn't stop licking my face when I wasn't feeling well. A past dog of mine, Laddie, who was usually all work and no doggie kisses, showed a rare sign of affection when my mother was in pain from a knee replacement. He jumped up on her bed and laid his paw gently on her painful leg. She couldn't help but smile. This same dog used to sit down at the bottom of the driveway on the day I was returning home from a vacation waiting for my arrival.

We have to remind ourselves that there is something deeper in the animals than time has held to be true. An intuitiveness that allows them to know and feel beyond the obvious. A gift that we all have but so many of us have lost.

The animals haven't lost this special sense. It's a powerful awareness of caring, yet they continue to be abused.

Eckhart Tolle: "We are ultimately not separate, not from one another nor from any living thing - the flower, the tree, the cat, the dog. You can sense yourself in them, the essence of who you are. You could say God. There is a term, a Christian term which is beautiful ... loving the creator in the creature."

I believe people who abuse animals have deviated from the evolutionary chain into another kind of life form. One that doesn't have a soul and a connection to what's important and real and that's a strong and dynamic life force whose energy is derived from love, respect and reverence. My senses are torched when I think about the animals that are being abused, even as I write these words. Animals who could otherwise contribute love, joy, companionship and healing to so many human lives.

What can you do? I've said this before. Continue to support all animal organizations. Not just the dog and cats but the polar bears, elephants and wolves. All of them. Continue to support your local shelters as well because they play a part in assisting with local animal abuse. They also do their best at matching the shelter animals with the right families giving the animal a home to thrive in and giving the family an animal who will bring to their lives an abundance of gifts.

Eckhart Tolle: "Love is a deep empathy with the other's Beingness. You recognized yourself, your essence in the other. And so you can no longer inflict suffering on the other."

View post:
OUR ANIMALS, OURSELVES: Use me, don't abuse me - Lake Placid News

Keith Roach, To Your Health Published 5:55 p.m. ET July 24, 2017

Dear Dr. Roach: In a recent column, you said, I dont find simply telling people to eat less and move more to always be an effective therapy. What do you suggest to patients wanting to lose weight?

C.N.

Dear C.N.: The vast majority of patients I see who are overweight know they are overweight, and have tried unsuccessfully to lose weight. Often, they have tried multiple different types of diets, sometimes having success in the short term, but then having gained it back. Eat less, move more, while correct, doesnt address the issues that are important for many people.

Although some of my colleagues will disagree with me, I look at the issue differently. I recommend that people choose a healthy diet. There are many healthy diets, and people can choose what they like, but I recommend plenty of vegetables, some fruits, and good-quality protein sources such as legumes or nuts and lean meats or fatty fish for those who eat them; processed foods, especially starches and processed meats, should be avoided. Along with these dietary changes, which are modest for many people, I advise increasing exercise, from wherever the person starts (within reason). My rationale is that losing weight often seems unattainable to people; however, eating better and exercising more feel like they are within ones control. There is no doubt that people will be healthier with a better diet and with more exercise.

It is true that over a long time, most people who make those dietary and exercise changes will lose weight. But the primary goal is to improve health, even if the weight doesnt come down.

Some people, especially those with medical problems due to their weight, need more-intensive intervention, and I am fortunate to have colleagues in weight management, both medical and surgical, for those who need it.

Dear Dr. Roach: My husband just got a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Were not thrilled, but it could have been worse. He is older than I am in his 70s. A few people have said that if you are going to get MS, it is not as bad when you are older. Is that true? What is his prognosis?

N.W.

Dear N.W.: I am sorry to hear about your husband. There is no good age to get this diagnosis. MS is the most common demyelinating disease of the nervous system. The myelin is a covering around the nerves, which protects them and speeds impulses. Without myelin, nerves cannot properly perform their function of communication. The myelin is destroyed by the bodys own systems, by an immune system that mistakes myelin for an invader.

It used to be thought that people who got MS at a younger age had a slower rate of disease progression; however, more recent studies have shown that age itself is not a strong predictor of the course of the disease. Similarly, being male was thought to predict worse outcomes, but that no longer seems to be the case.

It is very hard to predict how MS will progress in any given individual, as the disease can range dramatically. Some people have only a single episode in life (sometimes called benign MS, about 15 percent of cases). However, the most common is relapsing-remitting, with times of normal function interspersed with acute attacks. Finally, there is progressive disease, which can start right away (primary progressive MS) or after a period of time of relapsing-remitting (secondary progressive). About 12 percent of people have malignant MS, which leads to a need for assistance walking within five years.

MS is a complex disease, and I can barely scratch the surface of it here. There are many types of symptoms, but most people have at least one of the following: eye symptoms, numbness or weakness in a specific body area and terrible fatigue.

Email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.

Read or Share this story: http://detne.ws/2ur8WFg

See the rest here:
Doc: Choose better diet, exercise regimen for health - The Detroit News

Image: Supplied.

Is there anyone more annoying than a friend who has just lost weight and feels amazing?

Rhetorical question.

Because while some of us are still safely ensconced in layers of clothing, snug and warm in the comfort of denial about the inevitability of summer while eating carbs with sweet abandon, OTHERS are making their summer bodies, right as we speak, IN WINTER.

I found myself dying midway conversation with a friend who was on week three of the new version of the HCG Diet [an extreme diet involving injections of HCG, the hormone women make when pregnant].

She had just lost five kilos and was now perched high on a soapbox and offering unsolicited diet advice.

Not wanting to rain on her parade at all, because as if I would want to do that, I carefully enquired: hadnt she been on the old HCG roundabout before? And hadnt she, after she returned to eating like a normal person, regained all the hard earned lost kilos with maybe a couple of extras for good measure?

Oh, pardon me, sorry, this is the HCG you get from the doctor. Right. Is it still 500 calories a day? Hello obviously thats why it works. My mistake. And how fabulous that were giving it another go the third time is always the charm.

Look, I dont mean to be negative-Nancy but I was born a Size 14 and I certainly know my way around a calorie-restricted, protein-laden diet and exercise program like the very best of them.

Which is why I was a little surprised when Missy continued in her sermon. Do you know why French women dont get fat?

Um, because they are on drugs and they smoke?

No. Because theyve identified their food culprits. What are your top five food culprits Aleesa? Oooh. The big questions. Champagnefood, which has cheese on it and is like not a protein?

Well that answer opened a can of worms: Champagne sure have that glass but then get on the treadmill for half an hour to burn it off. Because thats how much it takes to work off the calories of just one glass of Champagne.

Firstly, what idiot is going to sit on one glass of Champagne and then excuse herself as she darts upstairs to the home gym filled with washing to do a quick sesh on the treadmill, WITHOUT having another glass of said Champagne on her return as a reward? Spare. Me.

I then get a follow up text message with the suggestion to "Find a PT and do weight resistance training at the gym because it will burn fat and tone". Knock me down with a feather weight training burns fat and tones! I had no idea. And Im kind of pissed that not one of my six trainers over five gyms during this last 15 years told me this. Seriously. And I paid these guys good money.

See, people like myself and my dear friend who have always had that extra 10kg plus to lose, have done it all the fasting, the meal replacements, the tablets instead of food (hello Herbal Life cant believe that wasnt sustainable), the shakes, the drops, the potions and lets not forget exercise (I mean were not idiots).

Weve bounced up and down through the step classes of our youth, done the grapevine right up to Body Pump, intermittent training, Spin and Barre I mean I have had a Fitness First membership for a generation. Indeed we seasoned dieters have been around that block many, many times. Which begs the question: Why, after having made a career of dieting and exercise, are we are still not our taut and trim best?

So, I did my Googles, found an article that really spoke to me, and guess what? I discovered that diets dont work (I bet you didnt know that either. GIVE ME BACK MY LIFE)!

Well, of course the basic science of eating less than your body burns, works you will lose weight.

But keeping the weight off for the rest of your life? I think we all know the answer to that one. However, there are some people who have been very successful long term.

A few of my friends have lost weight and kept it off for many years (I dont speak to those people anymore) but the data reveals that this is the exception, not the rule. Is it lack of motivation, will power, discipline? Why do our bodies kind of spring back to their natural size 16 states in no time at all?

Scientists have found that a weight-reduced body behaves very differently to a similar-size body that has not dieted it is metabolically different (like not good different).

Dieting puts a person who has gone down this slippery road into a state of always wanting to eat while their metabolism is slower than someone at the same weight who has never dieted. I kid you not. Its pure biological sabotage from the get-go.

After youve lost weight, your brain has a greater emotional response to food, Rosenbaum says. You want it more, but the areas of the brain involved in restraint are less active. Combine that with a body that is now burning fewer calories than expected, he says, and youve created the perfect storm for weight regain.

How long this state lasts isnt known, but preliminary research at Columbia suggests that for as many as six years after weight loss, the body continues to defend the old, higher weight by burning off far fewer calories than would be expected.

The problem could persist indefinitely. This doesnt mean its impossible to lose weight and keep it off; it just means its really, really difficult.

Arent we up against it, friends? Our very own bodies literally setting us up to fail. So, do we just abandon that second round of Michelle Bridges? Cease the Ketosis?

Stop donating money to various fitness establishments? Or do we just press on with that dream, and keep chipping away at our lifes work of actually losing weight and keeping it off? Its very tempting to throw in the towel. But Im no quitter. It does make me wonder thoughmaybe ignorance really is bliss after all.

Continue reading here:
'There's nothing more annoying than a friend on a diet' - 9Honey

The sudden passing of radio personality-cum-soca artiste Devon Matthews sent many into a state of disbelief and the misinformed report linking his death to the use or misuse of diet pills further exasperated his family, friends and fans alike.Matthews suffered a heart attack that killed him at the age of 36.The mention of diet pills, however, caused a stir and has left people wanting to know whether or not using diet pills is safe, advised by doctors and even if allowed, should one use them unsupervised by a medical practitioner.The Express sought the views of Dr Varma Deyalsingh on the potential dangers of diet pills and dietary supplements consumers might be unaware of.Deyalsingh has been in the medical field for over 20 years and believes in the power of information and educating others on health matters. He often finds himself encouraging people to do their own research, and talk to their doctor before taking any form of medication or starting a new exercise routine.Deyalsingh admits, unrealistic beauty and physical standards put pressure on people to fit in, this in turn causes them to take unprecedented risks, where they would normally stop and think things through.Body image is a problem in our society. Its not just our society but around the world. This concept of Slim-is-in is a mindset people have to change. The focus should not be on how slim you are but your overall good health. Eat healthy and have a healthy lifestyle, thats what is most important, Deyalsingh said.Easy to get off the shelf

Diet pills and supplements are easy enough to get off the shelf, and doctors also prescribe diet pills and supplements from time to time to their patients. While most people would be more focused on the results, it is important to know exactly what you are putting inside your body, Deyalsingh said.He cautioned about popular diet pills and supplements claim to be herbal. These diet pills and supplements have also been known to cause adverse side effects in people, he said. One case in point Deyalsingh referred to was Hydroxycut.He said, A lot of people were taking this, however, there were instances where people complained of having seizures, and after a thorough investigation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based in the United States, it was then removed from the shelves. The company reformulated the product, and reintroduced it to stores and pharmacies a few years later.Diet pills and supplements with green tea and caffeine are also considered relatively safe, but it can cause the heart to skip a beat in some people. Some diet pills contain amphetamines (uppers), and act as a stimulant to suppress the appetite. It can also increase energy. For some people it could also prove to be very addictive. Phentermine is another drug that can cause heart palpitations in some people, thats why it is so important that these two drugs are prescription only, he said.

Health factors before taking pills

There are many factors doctors take into account before putting someone on diet pills/supplements. If I decided to put someone on diet pills/supplements, the patient would first have to have demonstrated for a couple of months that healthy eating, dieting and exercise have failed. I would check first to see if the person has any heart problems, check and make sure their blood pressure is good, and if there has been any history with addiction such as alcohol or smoking. If any of these is a factor, there is greater chance for the person to be at risk for adverse side effects with this type of treatment. I would not recommend such for a patient with this history. I would prescribe something else, he said.Most consumers are not aware of the dangers posed by some diet pills and supplements. Some have been known to cause seizures, strokes, heart attacks and possible addiction. There have also been instances, where people combine medications, such as diet pills and anti-depressants, which in turn can cause grave harm to the body. There are countless diet pills and supplements on the market, however just because you can get it over-the-counter does not automatically mean it is safe, Deyalsingh said.There are instances, where some of these pills and supplements are banned in other countries, and still manage to find their way into our market. Gym owners and people who go to the gym need to be aware of all the new and existing medical information out there on supplements and diet pills. Not everything is safe for everyone, Deyalsingh said.Deyalsing added that pharmacists also have a greater role in educating consumers about the potential risks. They should be firm with consumers when they advise them to consult their physician before purchasing any medication.It does not take rocket science to get in shape, but there are people who are unwilling to put in the work through exercise to get the results they are looking for. My advice for anyone thinking about taking diet pills and supplements, try it the natural way first. Start with a proper diet and exercise instead of potentially causing your body harm, Deyalsingh added..

See the article here:
Diet, exercise, doctor first, before the pills - Trinidad & Tobago Express

Staff photo by Don Himsel The motto at CFI emblazoned on a T-shirt

Staff photo by Don Himsel Cadets gather after classroom instruction and prepare to attend their next excercise Wednesday.

Staff photo by Don Himsel Justine Shackleton of Toronto, Canada, was once a cadet. She returned this year as a volunteer to help Nashua Fire Rescue Lt. Jess Wyman run the camp. Its very rewarding for me to see the girls transform over the week; witness them experience the incredible thing that I did, she said. I went through that same transformation.

Staff photo by Don Himsel Olivia Horstkotte of Hudson listens to an instructor Wednesday.

Staff photo by Don Himsel Victoria Thickins of Londonderry puts on gear before a lesson on wildfire fighting Wednesday.

Staff photo by Don Himsel Wildfire fighting equipment lined up for training Wednesday.

Staff photo by Don Himsel Bryan Nowell, a New Hampshire forest ranger, shows cadets how to deploy an a protective emergency shelter.

Staff photo by Don Himsel A cadet rushes to effectively deploy her emergency fire shelter during a timed excercise Wednesday.

Staff photo by Don Himsel A cadet lays on top of an emergency fire shelter in Wednesday's heat.

CONCORD Dont call them firemen.

Print subscriber? Sign up for Full Access!

Please sign up for as low as 36 cents per day to continue viewing our website.

More:

A taste of firefighting: Camp shows women skills of fire service - Nashua Telegraph