Sunday
9 ways to get fit on the cheap
Can't afford a gym membership? Makes sense, given the financial climate and the need to tighten our belts. But if you want to tighten that belt holding up your jeans, money is no excuse. There are plenty of ways to work out and get in shape at little or no cost.
"Weight loss starts in your mind, and this has nothing to do with money," says Benjamin Jackson, a certified health fitness instructor and president of New Direction Personal Fitness and Sports Performance in Danville, Calif. "You just have to be mentally and internally motivated."
Start by setting specific goals, and realize that there is a psychology behind your "number," Jackson explains. "It's not necessary that you want to lose 30 pounds but that you want to fit into a certain pair of jeans or be as successful with your body and health as you are in other parts of your life," he says.
Below, find nine fabulous ways to get fit on the cheap. Some are courtesy of Jackson. Others were culled from our own nifty research. Yes, it's that easy.
1. TV as trainer. If you subscribe to digital cable or get On Demand channels, you may have access to FitTV (http://fittv.discovery.com), which features round-the-clock exercise programming. Tighten your tummy with the belly-dancing show "Shimmy." Get toned with world-renowned trainer Gilad Janklowicz on "It's Body Sculpt with Gilad Janklowicz." Or switch it up with "In Shape with Sharon Mann," the Canadian Aerobics Champion.
2. Squats are free. Jackson is particularly fond of incorporating them into real-life moving patterns. Try them the next time you're picking up kids' toys or grabbing that pen off the office floor.
3. Find a buddy. Research has proved that people are more likely to exercise when they have someone to do it with, Jackson says. So, grab a friend or family member before or after dinner. Then walk. Jog. Bike. Swim. Find a form of exercise and a time that works and stick with it. In the beginning, commit to 30 minutes of exercise two or three days a week. Jackson says dogs make the best exercise partners in the world. "If you don't have one, borrow a friend's."
4. One-legged moves. You don't need a gym or even hand weights to see results from resistance training. Using your body weight is usually more than enough, Jackson says. Challenge yourself by working one at a time. Sit in a chair and stand back up on one leg. "We spend most of our life on one leg, whether we're walking or sleeping, so it's a great exercise," he says. Jackson recommends three sets of 10 repetitions three times a week. The exercise improves balance and strength, but should be avoided if you have knee problems.
5. YouFit. Did you know you could be getting in shape while watching YouTube? No, not with those quirky Croatian music videos. A search of "fitness" yields 28,000 results, including salsa dancing workouts, abdominal workouts by Ford models and a series of nine-minute workout videos catered to women and weights. Search "running tips" and you'll get a two-minute session on how to warm up for a jog. It's all there, you just have to cater the search to your liking.
6. Take the stairs. Let's face it, they're all around you — at the mall, the library and the parking structures. So skip the elevator and channel your inner Rocky. Don't forget to get those knees up high. If you're lucky enough to have stairs at your home, double up by working out your triceps. Sit at the edge of a stair, put your hands, palm-down, on either side of you and lift yourself up and down in small pulsing motions.
7. Get toned with iTunes. If you have an iPod, you can download hundreds of fitness-related podcasts, Unlike your flat screen, however, it goes with you — to the park, the beach or around the neighborhood.
8. Stretch. Yes, improving flexibility aids in weight loss. Tight muscles decrease blood flow, which can slow down fat elimination, Jackson says. "It's not a ton of fat, but it makes a difference." That said, Jackson believes stretching loose muscles is a waste of time. Instead, stretch an area that is tight or that gets overlooked. For most people, that's the minor pectoral muscles and the hamstrings.
9. Look around. Your environment — your house, your community — is full of exercise tools and resources. The track at the nearby high school. Walking and hiking trails. Use what you have instead of focusing on what you don't have. "If you don't have a treadmill, I guarantee you have a sidewalk," Jackson says. "If you don't have running shoes, you have a decent pair of walking shoes." Don't own hand weights? Those paint cans in the garage make great ones, Jackson adds.
"Weight loss starts in your mind, and this has nothing to do with money," says Benjamin Jackson, a certified health fitness instructor and president of New Direction Personal Fitness and Sports Performance in Danville, Calif. "You just have to be mentally and internally motivated."
Start by setting specific goals, and realize that there is a psychology behind your "number," Jackson explains. "It's not necessary that you want to lose 30 pounds but that you want to fit into a certain pair of jeans or be as successful with your body and health as you are in other parts of your life," he says.
Below, find nine fabulous ways to get fit on the cheap. Some are courtesy of Jackson. Others were culled from our own nifty research. Yes, it's that easy.
1. TV as trainer. If you subscribe to digital cable or get On Demand channels, you may have access to FitTV (http://fittv.discovery.com), which features round-the-clock exercise programming. Tighten your tummy with the belly-dancing show "Shimmy." Get toned with world-renowned trainer Gilad Janklowicz on "It's Body Sculpt with Gilad Janklowicz." Or switch it up with "In Shape with Sharon Mann," the Canadian Aerobics Champion.
2. Squats are free. Jackson is particularly fond of incorporating them into real-life moving patterns. Try them the next time you're picking up kids' toys or grabbing that pen off the office floor.
3. Find a buddy. Research has proved that people are more likely to exercise when they have someone to do it with, Jackson says. So, grab a friend or family member before or after dinner. Then walk. Jog. Bike. Swim. Find a form of exercise and a time that works and stick with it. In the beginning, commit to 30 minutes of exercise two or three days a week. Jackson says dogs make the best exercise partners in the world. "If you don't have one, borrow a friend's."
4. One-legged moves. You don't need a gym or even hand weights to see results from resistance training. Using your body weight is usually more than enough, Jackson says. Challenge yourself by working one at a time. Sit in a chair and stand back up on one leg. "We spend most of our life on one leg, whether we're walking or sleeping, so it's a great exercise," he says. Jackson recommends three sets of 10 repetitions three times a week. The exercise improves balance and strength, but should be avoided if you have knee problems.
5. YouFit. Did you know you could be getting in shape while watching YouTube? No, not with those quirky Croatian music videos. A search of "fitness" yields 28,000 results, including salsa dancing workouts, abdominal workouts by Ford models and a series of nine-minute workout videos catered to women and weights. Search "running tips" and you'll get a two-minute session on how to warm up for a jog. It's all there, you just have to cater the search to your liking.
6. Take the stairs. Let's face it, they're all around you — at the mall, the library and the parking structures. So skip the elevator and channel your inner Rocky. Don't forget to get those knees up high. If you're lucky enough to have stairs at your home, double up by working out your triceps. Sit at the edge of a stair, put your hands, palm-down, on either side of you and lift yourself up and down in small pulsing motions.
7. Get toned with iTunes. If you have an iPod, you can download hundreds of fitness-related podcasts, Unlike your flat screen, however, it goes with you — to the park, the beach or around the neighborhood.
8. Stretch. Yes, improving flexibility aids in weight loss. Tight muscles decrease blood flow, which can slow down fat elimination, Jackson says. "It's not a ton of fat, but it makes a difference." That said, Jackson believes stretching loose muscles is a waste of time. Instead, stretch an area that is tight or that gets overlooked. For most people, that's the minor pectoral muscles and the hamstrings.
9. Look around. Your environment — your house, your community — is full of exercise tools and resources. The track at the nearby high school. Walking and hiking trails. Use what you have instead of focusing on what you don't have. "If you don't have a treadmill, I guarantee you have a sidewalk," Jackson says. "If you don't have running shoes, you have a decent pair of walking shoes." Don't own hand weights? Those paint cans in the garage make great ones, Jackson adds.
Teen tips for healthy eating
GETTING an adolescent to do something they don¿t want to is a challenge. But letting them off the hook when it comes to a healthy diet has serious consequences for their weight.
Open a window on a sunny afternoon, and what do you hear? Birds singing? Traffic noise? The laughter of children?
Odds are that these days you’ll hear the birds and the traffic, but sadly, the sound of children will often be missing.
Thanks to the trend towards a more sedentary lifestyle, Australian kids are spending more time indoors, and becoming less active than they used to be.
Add to that a growing demand for energy-dense junk foods, and it’s hardly surprising that they are growing fatter than ever before.
Teenage diets in particular are very different from those of a generation ago, with convenience foods, takeaways and eating away from home now a common part of today’s lifestyle.
This change has caused many parents to worry about whether their teenager is eating properly, and they’re right to be concerned.
In recent years, levels of childhood obesity have increased at alarming rates in many countries, including the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. According to the government’s Healthy Weight 2008 report, levels of obesity in Australian kids tripled between 1985 and 1995.
Today, there are an estimated 1.5 million Australians under the age of 18 who are overweight or obese.
Many factors have an influence on teen weight, as growing up leads to constant change.
For one, adolescent bodies grow faster than at any other time, except for during the first year of life.
And changes in hormones cause growth spurts and initiate physical changes such as breasts and menstruation in girls, and facial hair in boys.
Risk factors
Teens also develop their own personalities, tastes and ideas as they discover more about who they are, and fit into their environment.
Some begin to express their independence by giving up family food habits and developing their own, and personal appearance takes on new meaning at this stage of life, with weight and body shape becoming a priority for many.
The consequences of being an overweight teen are many, and include low self-esteem, depression as a result of teasing, and a greatly increased risk of becoming an overweight adult.
Add to that the medical dangers, and you end up with a melting pot of potential problems.
Dr Gary Deed, president of Diabetes Australia, says that research shows that regular exercise and a healthy diet in early life reduce the risk of obesity and high blood pressure, both of which, if left unchecked, can lead to lifestyle diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
“Research also suggests that the development of risk factors for heart disease, type 2 diabetes and a range of cancers begins in childhood and continues through adolescence and into adulthood,” Dr Deed says.
There are other good reasons to eat well in your teens. When it comes to bone health, it is especially important to nurture them as much as possible from an early age, according to Diabetes Australia.
“Throughout the teenage years, the skeleton is still growing and hopefully strengthening.
By ensuring your teen has the right amount of nutrients in their daily diet, and helping them to build stronger bones during adolescence, you’re helping to protect them from the effects of ageing, such as bone loss and osteoporosis, which can have a devastating effect in later life,” Dr Deed says.
Trying to convince a teen to give pizza a miss in favour of a chicken salad isn’t always easy, so what can parents do?
Julie Gilbert, a Queensland-based accredited practising dietitian and a mother of teens, says that the best approach to teenage weight issues is a positive one.
“There should be no nagging, no forbidden foods and no criticism,” she advises. “Understanding, love and support go a long way towards helping teens cope with weight issues.”
All in the family
Gilbert also says that encouraging the whole family to adopt a healthy lifestyle and be physically active will make it easier.
“Try to limit television viewing and computer games, and keep sweet or high-fat foods for occasional snacks.”
Damien Kelly, body+soul’s fitness expert, agrees that getting your kids off the couch and moving is a vital part of keeping teen weight in check.
“At certain pivotal ages, such as the teen years, exercise plays an even more important role,” he explains.
“If you can build a habit for regular activity in your teenage years, chances are the habit will stick with you for life.”
But he warns that this isn’t always easy. “Teens start to have many of the time and work pressures (school and first jobs) that many adults face,” Kelly says.
“This means that regular activity is hard work and no longer something that just falls into your lap.
“The statistics in this area are quite conclusive. If a girl is not active in her teens, there is only a 10 per cent chance she’ll be active in later life.”
Kelly says that, ultimately, for most teens being a healthy weight is a choice they have to make
“Getting all your lifestyle factors in check is a must,” he says. “You don’t have to be a saint; just do the right thing most of the time.”
Five ways to get your teen moving
• Where practical, get your teen to walk or cycle to school, or to their friend’s house, rather than driving them by car. Also encourage incidental activity such as walking the dog.
• Encourage your teen to participate in team sports and activities at school.
• If your teen enjoys surfing, skateboarding or biking, encourage them to make it a part of their daily routine.
• Encourage your teen to arrange sports activities on weekends, such as touch rugby or beach cricket.
• Get your teen to set themselves an activity challenge, such as training for a fun run or an ocean swim, or involve the whole family. The key is to be non-competitive and enjoy training with a purpose.
Dietitians Association of Australia’s eight top tips to help your teen make healthier food choices
1 Encourage teens to eat breakfast, as it improves alertness, concentration and mental performance, and helps with schoolwork and sport.
2 Involve teens in shopping for, and preparing, healthy food to increase their interest in following a healthy diet.
3 Turn off the TV and talk as a family during dinner. Studies show that in families where meals are eaten at the dinner table, children eat more nutritious meals and a greater variety of foods.
4 Set a good example, as teens pick up on your habits.
5 Keep healthy snack foods in the kitchen, such as fresh or canned fruit, small packets of dried fruit and nuts, packets of air-popped popcorn, cheese slices and tubs of yoghurt.
6 Buy smaller serves of high-kilojoule, high-fat “treats” such as biscuits, lollies, chocolate and takeaway foods, and have them in the house less often.
7 Swap soft drinks, cordials and juice for diet versions, and encourage teens to drink water and reduced-fat milk.
8 Encourage a higher consumption of fruit and vegetables. Make smoothies using fruit, reduced-fat milk and yoghurt, and serve chopped fresh vegetables with a low-fat dip as a healthy snack.
Five key nutrients for teens
• Calcium Important for bone density, especially in girls.
Best sources milk, yoghurt, cheese, broccoli and fish with edible bones, such as salmon.
• Iron Important for preventing iron-deficiency anaemia.
Best sources lean red meat, poultry, fish, dark green, leafy vegetables and wholegrain cereals.
• Omega-3 Fats Promote healthy brain development.
Best sources fish and seafood, nuts, seeds and oils, including canola.
• Zinc Important for growth, development and immunity.
Best sources lean meat, seafood, eggs, dairy foods, wholegrain breads and cereals, legumes and nuts.
• B-Group Vitamins Help to release energy from food.
Best sources fruit, vegetables, wholegrain breads and cereals.
Open a window on a sunny afternoon, and what do you hear? Birds singing? Traffic noise? The laughter of children?
Odds are that these days you’ll hear the birds and the traffic, but sadly, the sound of children will often be missing.
Thanks to the trend towards a more sedentary lifestyle, Australian kids are spending more time indoors, and becoming less active than they used to be.
Add to that a growing demand for energy-dense junk foods, and it’s hardly surprising that they are growing fatter than ever before.
Teenage diets in particular are very different from those of a generation ago, with convenience foods, takeaways and eating away from home now a common part of today’s lifestyle.
This change has caused many parents to worry about whether their teenager is eating properly, and they’re right to be concerned.
In recent years, levels of childhood obesity have increased at alarming rates in many countries, including the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. According to the government’s Healthy Weight 2008 report, levels of obesity in Australian kids tripled between 1985 and 1995.
Today, there are an estimated 1.5 million Australians under the age of 18 who are overweight or obese.
Many factors have an influence on teen weight, as growing up leads to constant change.
For one, adolescent bodies grow faster than at any other time, except for during the first year of life.
And changes in hormones cause growth spurts and initiate physical changes such as breasts and menstruation in girls, and facial hair in boys.
Risk factors
Teens also develop their own personalities, tastes and ideas as they discover more about who they are, and fit into their environment.
Some begin to express their independence by giving up family food habits and developing their own, and personal appearance takes on new meaning at this stage of life, with weight and body shape becoming a priority for many.
The consequences of being an overweight teen are many, and include low self-esteem, depression as a result of teasing, and a greatly increased risk of becoming an overweight adult.
Add to that the medical dangers, and you end up with a melting pot of potential problems.
Dr Gary Deed, president of Diabetes Australia, says that research shows that regular exercise and a healthy diet in early life reduce the risk of obesity and high blood pressure, both of which, if left unchecked, can lead to lifestyle diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
“Research also suggests that the development of risk factors for heart disease, type 2 diabetes and a range of cancers begins in childhood and continues through adolescence and into adulthood,” Dr Deed says.
There are other good reasons to eat well in your teens. When it comes to bone health, it is especially important to nurture them as much as possible from an early age, according to Diabetes Australia.
“Throughout the teenage years, the skeleton is still growing and hopefully strengthening.
By ensuring your teen has the right amount of nutrients in their daily diet, and helping them to build stronger bones during adolescence, you’re helping to protect them from the effects of ageing, such as bone loss and osteoporosis, which can have a devastating effect in later life,” Dr Deed says.
Trying to convince a teen to give pizza a miss in favour of a chicken salad isn’t always easy, so what can parents do?
Julie Gilbert, a Queensland-based accredited practising dietitian and a mother of teens, says that the best approach to teenage weight issues is a positive one.
“There should be no nagging, no forbidden foods and no criticism,” she advises. “Understanding, love and support go a long way towards helping teens cope with weight issues.”
All in the family
Gilbert also says that encouraging the whole family to adopt a healthy lifestyle and be physically active will make it easier.
“Try to limit television viewing and computer games, and keep sweet or high-fat foods for occasional snacks.”
Damien Kelly, body+soul’s fitness expert, agrees that getting your kids off the couch and moving is a vital part of keeping teen weight in check.
“At certain pivotal ages, such as the teen years, exercise plays an even more important role,” he explains.
“If you can build a habit for regular activity in your teenage years, chances are the habit will stick with you for life.”
But he warns that this isn’t always easy. “Teens start to have many of the time and work pressures (school and first jobs) that many adults face,” Kelly says.
“This means that regular activity is hard work and no longer something that just falls into your lap.
“The statistics in this area are quite conclusive. If a girl is not active in her teens, there is only a 10 per cent chance she’ll be active in later life.”
Kelly says that, ultimately, for most teens being a healthy weight is a choice they have to make
“Getting all your lifestyle factors in check is a must,” he says. “You don’t have to be a saint; just do the right thing most of the time.”
Five ways to get your teen moving
• Where practical, get your teen to walk or cycle to school, or to their friend’s house, rather than driving them by car. Also encourage incidental activity such as walking the dog.
• Encourage your teen to participate in team sports and activities at school.
• If your teen enjoys surfing, skateboarding or biking, encourage them to make it a part of their daily routine.
• Encourage your teen to arrange sports activities on weekends, such as touch rugby or beach cricket.
• Get your teen to set themselves an activity challenge, such as training for a fun run or an ocean swim, or involve the whole family. The key is to be non-competitive and enjoy training with a purpose.
Dietitians Association of Australia’s eight top tips to help your teen make healthier food choices
1 Encourage teens to eat breakfast, as it improves alertness, concentration and mental performance, and helps with schoolwork and sport.
2 Involve teens in shopping for, and preparing, healthy food to increase their interest in following a healthy diet.
3 Turn off the TV and talk as a family during dinner. Studies show that in families where meals are eaten at the dinner table, children eat more nutritious meals and a greater variety of foods.
4 Set a good example, as teens pick up on your habits.
5 Keep healthy snack foods in the kitchen, such as fresh or canned fruit, small packets of dried fruit and nuts, packets of air-popped popcorn, cheese slices and tubs of yoghurt.
6 Buy smaller serves of high-kilojoule, high-fat “treats” such as biscuits, lollies, chocolate and takeaway foods, and have them in the house less often.
7 Swap soft drinks, cordials and juice for diet versions, and encourage teens to drink water and reduced-fat milk.
8 Encourage a higher consumption of fruit and vegetables. Make smoothies using fruit, reduced-fat milk and yoghurt, and serve chopped fresh vegetables with a low-fat dip as a healthy snack.
Five key nutrients for teens
• Calcium Important for bone density, especially in girls.
Best sources milk, yoghurt, cheese, broccoli and fish with edible bones, such as salmon.
• Iron Important for preventing iron-deficiency anaemia.
Best sources lean red meat, poultry, fish, dark green, leafy vegetables and wholegrain cereals.
• Omega-3 Fats Promote healthy brain development.
Best sources fish and seafood, nuts, seeds and oils, including canola.
• Zinc Important for growth, development and immunity.
Best sources lean meat, seafood, eggs, dairy foods, wholegrain breads and cereals, legumes and nuts.
• B-Group Vitamins Help to release energy from food.
Best sources fruit, vegetables, wholegrain breads and cereals.
11 Weight Loss Tips
Weight loss is something that's on the mind of millions of people worldwide as modern living has caused many people to suffer from being overweight. Despite the myriad number of products available that claim to help people lose weight, the stark reality is that folks keep on getting heavier.
11) Beware of snack foods that make health claims. The supermarket is full of new products that make dubious claims such as “high in fiber.” Although a food may be high in fiber, which is a good thing, it might also contain a lot of sugar or be high in fat. Judge all foods on their merits, regardless of their packages.
10) Count your calories. You don't have to count religiously, but at least keep a running tab throughout the day. The only way you can lose excess weight is if you cut your caloric intake and increase your caloric deficit.
9) Don't neglect exercise. The excess weight you've gained won't leave without exercise. Diet alone is not enough. Even if you lost weight, you'd still be flabby anyways. Start a fitness program at the same time you change your diet.
8) Don't become obsessed with “bad” or “good” foods. Total caloric intake is still the key to losing weight. Sure, some carbs seem “worse” than others, but you didn't gain weight solely from eating a certain type of food. You gained weight eating too many calories.
7) Don't make food restrictions you can't live with. If you can't maintain your diet, you'll end up gaining back the weight. It's not worth having to start all over again.
6) Be patient. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was a lumpy body. It took years to amass the extra weight and it won't be gone in days or weeks. Think in terms of months or years if you have a lot to lose.
5) Don't obsess about the day to day details. If you're doing the right thing, you'll have great results.
4) Be positive. Never put yourself down. In order to change your body, you first have to change your self image. You can only do this by fixating on what your body will be like, not by obsessing on how far you have to go.
3) Find a weight loss partner. It's better to try and lose weight with a buddy, rather than going it alone. But try and find a reliable person who won't leave you in the lurch.
2) Ignore non supportive comments from relatives or friends. People say a lot of stupid things that can bring you down. Screw them. Stick to your guns and the results are guaranteed. Don't forget: Misery loves company and some people might just be bringing you down.
1) Exercise consistently for three weeks. If you do something for three weeks, it becomes a habit. Push yourself for the first month and exercising should get much easier.
Losing weight involves making fundamental (but simple) changes to how you've been eating and whether or not you've been active. In order to drop pounds you need to burn more calories than you consume. If you decrease the calories you consume through eating and increase the number of calories you burn through exercise, you'll see dramatic, permanent, and safe weight loss.
11) Beware of snack foods that make health claims. The supermarket is full of new products that make dubious claims such as “high in fiber.” Although a food may be high in fiber, which is a good thing, it might also contain a lot of sugar or be high in fat. Judge all foods on their merits, regardless of their packages.
10) Count your calories. You don't have to count religiously, but at least keep a running tab throughout the day. The only way you can lose excess weight is if you cut your caloric intake and increase your caloric deficit.
9) Don't neglect exercise. The excess weight you've gained won't leave without exercise. Diet alone is not enough. Even if you lost weight, you'd still be flabby anyways. Start a fitness program at the same time you change your diet.
8) Don't become obsessed with “bad” or “good” foods. Total caloric intake is still the key to losing weight. Sure, some carbs seem “worse” than others, but you didn't gain weight solely from eating a certain type of food. You gained weight eating too many calories.
7) Don't make food restrictions you can't live with. If you can't maintain your diet, you'll end up gaining back the weight. It's not worth having to start all over again.
6) Be patient. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was a lumpy body. It took years to amass the extra weight and it won't be gone in days or weeks. Think in terms of months or years if you have a lot to lose.
5) Don't obsess about the day to day details. If you're doing the right thing, you'll have great results.
4) Be positive. Never put yourself down. In order to change your body, you first have to change your self image. You can only do this by fixating on what your body will be like, not by obsessing on how far you have to go.
3) Find a weight loss partner. It's better to try and lose weight with a buddy, rather than going it alone. But try and find a reliable person who won't leave you in the lurch.
2) Ignore non supportive comments from relatives or friends. People say a lot of stupid things that can bring you down. Screw them. Stick to your guns and the results are guaranteed. Don't forget: Misery loves company and some people might just be bringing you down.
1) Exercise consistently for three weeks. If you do something for three weeks, it becomes a habit. Push yourself for the first month and exercising should get much easier.
Losing weight involves making fundamental (but simple) changes to how you've been eating and whether or not you've been active. In order to drop pounds you need to burn more calories than you consume. If you decrease the calories you consume through eating and increase the number of calories you burn through exercise, you'll see dramatic, permanent, and safe weight loss.
Yoga makes big news this week.
A study came out this week that said women who wanted to lose weight should ditch their diets and learn to relax instead. What???!!!
Really! A two year study at the University of Otago in New Zealand divided 225 overweight women into three groYoga has many health benefits for us all.ups, according to the paper in the journal, Preventive Medicine.
* The first group took part in yoga, meditation, and positive visualization.
* The second group focused on physical exercise and nutrition.
* The third group received nutrition information in the mail.
Dr. Caroline Horwath, who was the study co-author, said all three groups managed not to increase their weight during this study. However, the most striking results were for the first group. They had an average weight loss of five and a half pounds. She added that at the end of the two year study, these women were the only group to maintain the psychological and medical symptom improvements. "By learning and practicing relaxation techniques as part of a wider lifestyle change program, women have effective tools to manage stress and emotions without resorting to unhealthy eating.", she believes.
Not surprisingly, the researchers also found that the volunteers with a "weight focused mindset" were more likely to lose interest in the study and drop out.
Before we all go out and replace our cardio, resistance training and clean eating with a sticky mat and yoga class, I want to point a few things out. First, the successful group lost five and a half pounds over 2 years. If they needed to lose 30 lbs. or so, five and a half pounds is a drop in the bucket especially over 2 years! The third group received nutrition information in the mail. That's it. We all know where that's going to go. The second group focused on exercise and nutrition. That is not very specific, so I really don't know what that really entails. Hmm.. Maybe we need to rethink this.
Let me tell you what I know. For me and for many, many clients and people I know, clean eating lifestyle changes and regular, consistent exercise has been the way to huge body composition changes and health improvements. It works!! I can think of some people who, for whatever reason or lot in life, just cannot bring themselves to make these changes. For these people, I think this study can be a real answer toward making healthy, positive changes in their lifestyle. That can be a positive and successful route after many unsuccessful attempts with diet and exercise. I know just yoga and meditating is not going to keep me, at 46 years old, at 15% body fat and a size 2 especially after having 5 children. However, there are so many people out there that need something, anything to turn the tables of ballooning weight and increasing health problems. Their goals are not the size 2 or ripped abs. They just want their health back. They are searching for quality of life. For this person, the study is a big revelation and is worth pursuing.
Really! A two year study at the University of Otago in New Zealand divided 225 overweight women into three groYoga has many health benefits for us all.ups, according to the paper in the journal, Preventive Medicine.
* The first group took part in yoga, meditation, and positive visualization.
* The second group focused on physical exercise and nutrition.
* The third group received nutrition information in the mail.
Dr. Caroline Horwath, who was the study co-author, said all three groups managed not to increase their weight during this study. However, the most striking results were for the first group. They had an average weight loss of five and a half pounds. She added that at the end of the two year study, these women were the only group to maintain the psychological and medical symptom improvements. "By learning and practicing relaxation techniques as part of a wider lifestyle change program, women have effective tools to manage stress and emotions without resorting to unhealthy eating.", she believes.
Not surprisingly, the researchers also found that the volunteers with a "weight focused mindset" were more likely to lose interest in the study and drop out.
Before we all go out and replace our cardio, resistance training and clean eating with a sticky mat and yoga class, I want to point a few things out. First, the successful group lost five and a half pounds over 2 years. If they needed to lose 30 lbs. or so, five and a half pounds is a drop in the bucket especially over 2 years! The third group received nutrition information in the mail. That's it. We all know where that's going to go. The second group focused on exercise and nutrition. That is not very specific, so I really don't know what that really entails. Hmm.. Maybe we need to rethink this.
Let me tell you what I know. For me and for many, many clients and people I know, clean eating lifestyle changes and regular, consistent exercise has been the way to huge body composition changes and health improvements. It works!! I can think of some people who, for whatever reason or lot in life, just cannot bring themselves to make these changes. For these people, I think this study can be a real answer toward making healthy, positive changes in their lifestyle. That can be a positive and successful route after many unsuccessful attempts with diet and exercise. I know just yoga and meditating is not going to keep me, at 46 years old, at 15% body fat and a size 2 especially after having 5 children. However, there are so many people out there that need something, anything to turn the tables of ballooning weight and increasing health problems. Their goals are not the size 2 or ripped abs. They just want their health back. They are searching for quality of life. For this person, the study is a big revelation and is worth pursuing.
Losing weight takes commitment
Healthy weight week is next Monday through Jan. 30 and is an observance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle regardless of weight.
The popularity of weight loss as a New Year’s resolution comes as no surprise, with more than 60 percent of the American population overweight or obese, but with so many people resolving to lose weight, why do they end up making the same resolution year after year?
Commitment, a clear purpose and accountability are lacking in many resolutions leading to abandonment by the end of January. Are Andrews members ready to change to a healthy lifestyle? If the answer is yes, commit to it!
First, develop a clear purpose, in writing, of goals to achieve, and be realistic with these goals. Commit to use tried and true methods to improve habits and break the old lifestyle.
Quick fix diets don’t work, and when they do result in weight loss, it usually doesn’t last. If a weight loss plan seems too good to be true, it usually is.
Second, avoid the ‘‘all or nothing” mentality. For example, if exercise has been lacking for the past few months, then the determination to work out every day may be overwhelming, leading to the workout becoming a chore, or even leading to injury. Likewise, excess holiday eating may leave one wanting to fully overhaul eating habits. These types of resolutions start full throttle and trickle to a slow demise by trying to accomplish too much at once.
Hold a level of accountablity by setting concrete, achievable goals and timelines.
It’s important to commit to change, determine the needed motivation for the changes being made so when it gets tough, it’s easy to remember why there was a need for change in the first place.
Another helpful tip is to make a list of potential barriers and ways to overcome those barriers and look for assistance in the right places. Advice from the medical field is useful, as well as the Internet, books and even friends and colleagues. However, it’s important to know how to identify unhealthy advice and to realize what works for one may not work for everyone. Have a plan to overcome setbacks and understand that they will happen. Be prepared for these things when embarking on a weightloss challenge to ensure readiness when faced with a barrier or setback. Have a reward system in place when short term goals are achieved. It’s better not to reward with food but perhaps with a new DVD, a new outfit or a trip.
Finally, be realistic with how much weightloss to expect in a given amount of time. Quick weight loss is almost a sure recipe for weight regain, since the methods used typically aren’t sustainable over time. A healthy rate of weight loss is an average of one to two pounds per week. More than that and it’s difficult for a body to adjust to the changes. Consider the lowest adult weight: how old they were at that time? What was going on in their life? Do current circumstances provide the time and support needed to achieve that weight, or would something moderate be more realistic?
Striving to obtain a healthy weight is a commendable lifestyle change, and a body mass index chart can help evaluate a persons weight status. If frustration sets in by the amount of weight needed to lose and reach a BMI less than 25, take heart in knowing that it’s more than just what the scale says. It’s possible to maintain a low health risk profile with a BMI in the lower end of the overweight category (25-27.5). Maintain an appropriate waist circumference (less than 35” females, 40” males), engage in regular exercise, eat a healthful diet and abstain from tobacco use. Engaging in these behaviors at any weight will help improve current health risks. Remember, staying healthy and feeling good is part of enjoying a good quality of life!
The Andrews base community has several resources available to assist in achieving your goals:
1. Weight Management and Fitness Fundamentals Classes at the Health and Wellness Center
2. Portion of the Pounds Program at Malcolm Grow Medical Center
3. Healthy Weighs with Health Net, a free self-paced online program
4. Individual nutritional counseling with Registered Dietitians
5. Group fitness classes at the base Fitness Center
The popularity of weight loss as a New Year’s resolution comes as no surprise, with more than 60 percent of the American population overweight or obese, but with so many people resolving to lose weight, why do they end up making the same resolution year after year?
Commitment, a clear purpose and accountability are lacking in many resolutions leading to abandonment by the end of January. Are Andrews members ready to change to a healthy lifestyle? If the answer is yes, commit to it!
First, develop a clear purpose, in writing, of goals to achieve, and be realistic with these goals. Commit to use tried and true methods to improve habits and break the old lifestyle.
Quick fix diets don’t work, and when they do result in weight loss, it usually doesn’t last. If a weight loss plan seems too good to be true, it usually is.
Second, avoid the ‘‘all or nothing” mentality. For example, if exercise has been lacking for the past few months, then the determination to work out every day may be overwhelming, leading to the workout becoming a chore, or even leading to injury. Likewise, excess holiday eating may leave one wanting to fully overhaul eating habits. These types of resolutions start full throttle and trickle to a slow demise by trying to accomplish too much at once.
Hold a level of accountablity by setting concrete, achievable goals and timelines.
It’s important to commit to change, determine the needed motivation for the changes being made so when it gets tough, it’s easy to remember why there was a need for change in the first place.
Another helpful tip is to make a list of potential barriers and ways to overcome those barriers and look for assistance in the right places. Advice from the medical field is useful, as well as the Internet, books and even friends and colleagues. However, it’s important to know how to identify unhealthy advice and to realize what works for one may not work for everyone. Have a plan to overcome setbacks and understand that they will happen. Be prepared for these things when embarking on a weightloss challenge to ensure readiness when faced with a barrier or setback. Have a reward system in place when short term goals are achieved. It’s better not to reward with food but perhaps with a new DVD, a new outfit or a trip.
Finally, be realistic with how much weightloss to expect in a given amount of time. Quick weight loss is almost a sure recipe for weight regain, since the methods used typically aren’t sustainable over time. A healthy rate of weight loss is an average of one to two pounds per week. More than that and it’s difficult for a body to adjust to the changes. Consider the lowest adult weight: how old they were at that time? What was going on in their life? Do current circumstances provide the time and support needed to achieve that weight, or would something moderate be more realistic?
Striving to obtain a healthy weight is a commendable lifestyle change, and a body mass index chart can help evaluate a persons weight status. If frustration sets in by the amount of weight needed to lose and reach a BMI less than 25, take heart in knowing that it’s more than just what the scale says. It’s possible to maintain a low health risk profile with a BMI in the lower end of the overweight category (25-27.5). Maintain an appropriate waist circumference (less than 35” females, 40” males), engage in regular exercise, eat a healthful diet and abstain from tobacco use. Engaging in these behaviors at any weight will help improve current health risks. Remember, staying healthy and feeling good is part of enjoying a good quality of life!
The Andrews base community has several resources available to assist in achieving your goals:
1. Weight Management and Fitness Fundamentals Classes at the Health and Wellness Center
2. Portion of the Pounds Program at Malcolm Grow Medical Center
3. Healthy Weighs with Health Net, a free self-paced online program
4. Individual nutritional counseling with Registered Dietitians
5. Group fitness classes at the base Fitness Center
Thursday
Weight loss: 6 strategies for success
You probably know that hundreds of different fad diets, weight-loss programs and outright scams promise quick and easy weight loss. But the foundation of every successful weight-loss program still remains a healthy diet combined with exercise. You must make permanent changes in your lifestyle and health habits to lose significant weight and keep it off.
How do you make those permanent changes?
Follow these six strategies.
1. Make a commitment
Permanent weight loss takes time and effort. It requires focus and a lifelong commitment. Make sure that you're ready to make permanent changes and that you do so for the right reasons.
No one else can make you lose weight. In fact, external pressure — often from people closest to you — may make matters worse. You must undertake diet and exercise changes to please yourself.
As you're planning new weight-related lifestyle changes, try to resolve any other problems in your life. It takes a lot of mental and physical energy to change your habits. So make sure you aren't distracted by other major life issues, such as marital or financial problems. Timing is key to success. Ask yourself if you're ready to take on the challenges of serious weight loss.
2. Get emotional support
Only you can help yourself lose weight by taking responsibility for your own behavior. But that doesn't mean that you have to do everything alone. Seek support when needed from your partner, family and friends.
Pick people who you know want only the best for you and who will encourage you. Ideally, find people who will listen to your concerns and feelings, spend time exercising with you, and share the priority you've placed on developing a healthier lifestyle.
3. Set a realistic goal
When you're considering what to expect from your new eating and exercise plan, be realistic. Healthy weight loss occurs slowly and steadily. Aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week. To do this, you need to burn 500 to 1,000 calories more than you consume each day through a low-calorie diet and regular exercise. Losing weight more rapidly means losing water weight or muscle tissue, rather than fat.
Make your goals "process goals," such as exercising regularly, rather than "outcome goals," such as losing 50 pounds. Changing your process — your habits — is the key to weight loss. Make sure that your process goals are realistic, specific and measurable, for example, you'll walk for 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
4. Enjoy healthier foods
Adopting a new eating style that promotes weight loss must include lowering your total calorie intake. But decreasing calories need not mean giving up taste, satisfaction or even ease of meal preparation. One way you can lower your calorie intake is by eating more plant-based foods — fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Strive for variety to help you achieve your goals without giving up taste or nutrition. Cutting back on calories is easier if you focus on limiting fat.
To lose weight, talk to your doctor about setting these daily calorie goals:
Very low calorie diets aren't a healthy long-term strategy. Fewer than 1,200 calories a day for women and 1,400 calories for men aren't generally recommended. If your calories are too low, you run the risk of not getting all of the nutrients you need for good health.
5. Get active, stay active
Dieting alone can help you lose weight. Cutting 250 calories from your daily diet can help you lose about half a pound a week: 3,500 calories equals 1 pound of fat. But add a 30-minute brisk walk four days a week, and you can double your rate of weight loss.
The goal of exercise for weight loss is to burn more calories, although exercise offers many other benefits as well. How many calories you burn depends on the frequency, duration and intensity of your activities. One of the best ways to lose body fat is through steady aerobic exercise — such as walking — for more than 30 minutes most days of the week.
Even though regularly scheduled aerobic exercise is best for losing fat, any extra movement helps burn calories. Lifestyle activities may be easier to fit into your day. Think about ways you can increase your physical activity throughout the day. For example, make several trips up and down stairs instead of using the elevator, or park at the far end of the lot.
6. Change your lifestyle
It's not enough to eat healthy foods and exercise for only a few weeks or even several months. You have to include these behaviors into your life. To do that, you have to change the behaviors that helped make you overweight in the first place. Lifestyle changes start with taking an honest look at your eating habits and daily routine.
After assessing your personal challenges to weight loss, try working out a strategy to gradually change habits and attitudes that have sabotaged your past efforts. Simply admitting your own challenges won't get you past them entirely. But it helps in planning how you'll deal with them and whether you're going to succeed in losing weight once and for all.
You likely will have an occasional setback. But instead of giving up entirely, simply start fresh the next day. Remember that you're planning to change your life. It won't happen all at once, but stick to your healthy lifestyle and the results will be worth it.
How do you make those permanent changes?
Follow these six strategies.
1. Make a commitment
Permanent weight loss takes time and effort. It requires focus and a lifelong commitment. Make sure that you're ready to make permanent changes and that you do so for the right reasons.
No one else can make you lose weight. In fact, external pressure — often from people closest to you — may make matters worse. You must undertake diet and exercise changes to please yourself.
As you're planning new weight-related lifestyle changes, try to resolve any other problems in your life. It takes a lot of mental and physical energy to change your habits. So make sure you aren't distracted by other major life issues, such as marital or financial problems. Timing is key to success. Ask yourself if you're ready to take on the challenges of serious weight loss.
2. Get emotional support
Only you can help yourself lose weight by taking responsibility for your own behavior. But that doesn't mean that you have to do everything alone. Seek support when needed from your partner, family and friends.
Pick people who you know want only the best for you and who will encourage you. Ideally, find people who will listen to your concerns and feelings, spend time exercising with you, and share the priority you've placed on developing a healthier lifestyle.
3. Set a realistic goal
When you're considering what to expect from your new eating and exercise plan, be realistic. Healthy weight loss occurs slowly and steadily. Aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week. To do this, you need to burn 500 to 1,000 calories more than you consume each day through a low-calorie diet and regular exercise. Losing weight more rapidly means losing water weight or muscle tissue, rather than fat.
Make your goals "process goals," such as exercising regularly, rather than "outcome goals," such as losing 50 pounds. Changing your process — your habits — is the key to weight loss. Make sure that your process goals are realistic, specific and measurable, for example, you'll walk for 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
4. Enjoy healthier foods
Adopting a new eating style that promotes weight loss must include lowering your total calorie intake. But decreasing calories need not mean giving up taste, satisfaction or even ease of meal preparation. One way you can lower your calorie intake is by eating more plant-based foods — fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Strive for variety to help you achieve your goals without giving up taste or nutrition. Cutting back on calories is easier if you focus on limiting fat.
To lose weight, talk to your doctor about setting these daily calorie goals:
| Your current weight in pounds | Daily calorie goal | |
|---|---|---|
| Women | Men | |
| 250 or less | 1,200 | 1,400 |
| 251 to 300 | 1,400 | 1,600 |
| 301 or more | 1,600 | 1,800 |
Very low calorie diets aren't a healthy long-term strategy. Fewer than 1,200 calories a day for women and 1,400 calories for men aren't generally recommended. If your calories are too low, you run the risk of not getting all of the nutrients you need for good health.
5. Get active, stay active
Dieting alone can help you lose weight. Cutting 250 calories from your daily diet can help you lose about half a pound a week: 3,500 calories equals 1 pound of fat. But add a 30-minute brisk walk four days a week, and you can double your rate of weight loss.
The goal of exercise for weight loss is to burn more calories, although exercise offers many other benefits as well. How many calories you burn depends on the frequency, duration and intensity of your activities. One of the best ways to lose body fat is through steady aerobic exercise — such as walking — for more than 30 minutes most days of the week.
Even though regularly scheduled aerobic exercise is best for losing fat, any extra movement helps burn calories. Lifestyle activities may be easier to fit into your day. Think about ways you can increase your physical activity throughout the day. For example, make several trips up and down stairs instead of using the elevator, or park at the far end of the lot.
6. Change your lifestyle
It's not enough to eat healthy foods and exercise for only a few weeks or even several months. You have to include these behaviors into your life. To do that, you have to change the behaviors that helped make you overweight in the first place. Lifestyle changes start with taking an honest look at your eating habits and daily routine.
After assessing your personal challenges to weight loss, try working out a strategy to gradually change habits and attitudes that have sabotaged your past efforts. Simply admitting your own challenges won't get you past them entirely. But it helps in planning how you'll deal with them and whether you're going to succeed in losing weight once and for all.
You likely will have an occasional setback. But instead of giving up entirely, simply start fresh the next day. Remember that you're planning to change your life. It won't happen all at once, but stick to your healthy lifestyle and the results will be worth it.
Can eating a big breakfast help you lose weight?
Overview
Research suggests that having a big breakfast with carbohydrates and lean protein, and even a piece of chocolate, will help keep your appetite in check all day and help you lose weight.
The study compared sedentary, obese women eating a big breakfast containing carbs with sedentary, obese women eating a low-carbohydrate breakfast. Results showed that at the end of the eight-month trial, women eating the big breakfast lost an average of almost 40 pounds, while the low-carb breakfast group lost only nine pounds on average. Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University, led by Daniela Jakubowicz, M.D., of the Hospital de Clinicas, Caracas, Venzezuela, conducted the study, released in June 2008.
Research suggests that having a big breakfast with carbohydrates and lean protein, and even a piece of chocolate, will help keep your appetite in check all day and help you lose weight.
The study compared sedentary, obese women eating a big breakfast containing carbs with sedentary, obese women eating a low-carbohydrate breakfast. Results showed that at the end of the eight-month trial, women eating the big breakfast lost an average of almost 40 pounds, while the low-carb breakfast group lost only nine pounds on average. Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University, led by Daniela Jakubowicz, M.D., of the Hospital de Clinicas, Caracas, Venzezuela, conducted the study, released in June 2008.
Questions and answers
What qualifies as a "big breakfast"?
Elizabeth Cohen, CNN medical news correspondent: Here's an example of a high-carbohydrate, high-protein breakfast: A cup of coffee with cream, two 8-ounce glasses of milk, three slices of roast beef, chicken breast or turkey breast, two slices of cheese, and two slices of whole grain bread plus a pat of butter. And here's an example of the low-carbohydrate breakfast: Three slices of cooked pork bacon, one egg, two teaspoons of butter, coffee with no milk, four ounces of 1 percent milk. Although the study author tells us that the calories aren't the biggest focus here, when you compare the meals, the big breakfasts were about 600 calories, and then you eat another 600 calories between lunch and dinner. The low-carb breakfasts were about 350 calories, and you eat another 750 calories later on.
How did the study work?
Cohen: The two groups ate these types of breakfasts, and then both groups ate low-carb lunches and dinners for the rest of the day. The big breakfast eaters' primary goal was to fight off later cravings and to feel as if they were not depriving themselves of food in the morning. They were even told that if you still find you're hungry by noon, you probably need more protein in the morning -- so here, have another slice of meat!
By four months, both groups lost a decent amount of weight. By eight months, the big breakfast eaters were able to keep off the weight and keep losing, while the low-carb eaters gained some of those pounds back that they shed previously. The people eating the big breakfasts reported feeling less hungry and had fewer carbohydrate cravings.We know that ovarian cancer is often diagnosed too late in women.
Are these results controversial?
Cohen: Not everyone thinks results are valid. Critics say this research needs to be repeated and further evaluated. But the nutrition experts we talked to all agreed that a good breakfast does help you lose weight. They agreed that the earlier in the day you get your calories, the more efficiently your body uses them up, which equals better weight loss. Another dietitian raised the question of who's going to make themselves eat that much protein in the morning? Our bodies just don't want to, so that's another challenge.
Why does eating more in the morning help you lose weight?
Cohen: When you wake up in the morning, your body and your brain are primed to look for food. Your metabolism is revved up, and levels of cortisol and adrenaline are at their highest. The brain needs energy quickly, so if you don't eat enough early on, the brain looks for a different fuel source. It goes into emergency mode, resorting to the energy stored in your muscles, destroying muscle tissue. When you finally do eat, the body stores the energy it gets from food as fat. The high protein-carb mix gives the body the jump-start it needs in the morning. Because the protein is digested slowly over the course of the day, you don't feel as hungry. Not feeling hungry is what makes this diet successful, according to the study author.
In the morning, your serotonin levels are also high, so that keeps food cravings at bay. But later in the day, your serotonin levels go down, so you get cravings for indulgent foods such as chocolate. The study author says that if you eat the chocolate in the afternoon, your body gets addicted to that sensation, and you look for chocolate the next day at that time, too. Bubt if you eat it in the morning, it doesn't feel as good as it does when you eat it later, and so your body decides, "Hey I don't need this chocolate at all!"
We contacted the folks from the Atkins Corporation to find out what they think of the study, and their response was that "participants in the low-carb arm were destined to fail because the calories and protein intake were too low." They said the low-carb group's meal plan was not reflective of what an Atkins meal should be.
Weight loss pill could mess up mind, banned
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the use of weight-loss pill `rimonabant' after research showed that the drug caused serious psychiatric side-effects, including suicidal tendencies among users. About 12 generic companies in India manufacture the anti-obesity drug, which had a tiny, Rs 13-crore market.
The office of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation of the ministry of health and family welfare asked the companies to stop manufacturing the drug and recall the available products in the market. The need to ban the drug was also raised at a recent meeting of the Drug Coordination Committee and the Drug Technical Advisory Body, though no drastic side-effects of the drug were reported in the country.
Confirming the move, an official at the office of the DTAB said, ``as a precautionary measure, the government suspended the drug after it was stopped in European nations''. Rimonabant is a patented drug from pharma giant Sanofi Aventis and is sold under various names like Slimona, Acomplia, Monaslim, Bethin, Riobant, Rimoslim or Zimulti.
Some of the companies manufacturing the drug are Ranbaxy, Sun Pharma, Zydus Cadila and Torrent Pharmaceuticals among others. Speaking to TOI on condition of anonymity, an executive of a generic firm confirmed that they had received a letter from the FDA ``banning the drug''.
The drug has been under a cloud in Europe and the US, and was not approved by the US FDA for use in the United States, though it was licensed for general use in Britain.
Officials at DCGI confirmed that the drug had been banned on the recommendation of European drug regulators.
The office of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation of the ministry of health and family welfare asked the companies to stop manufacturing the drug and recall the available products in the market. The need to ban the drug was also raised at a recent meeting of the Drug Coordination Committee and the Drug Technical Advisory Body, though no drastic side-effects of the drug were reported in the country.
Confirming the move, an official at the office of the DTAB said, ``as a precautionary measure, the government suspended the drug after it was stopped in European nations''. Rimonabant is a patented drug from pharma giant Sanofi Aventis and is sold under various names like Slimona, Acomplia, Monaslim, Bethin, Riobant, Rimoslim or Zimulti.
Some of the companies manufacturing the drug are Ranbaxy, Sun Pharma, Zydus Cadila and Torrent Pharmaceuticals among others. Speaking to TOI on condition of anonymity, an executive of a generic firm confirmed that they had received a letter from the FDA ``banning the drug''.
The drug has been under a cloud in Europe and the US, and was not approved by the US FDA for use in the United States, though it was licensed for general use in Britain.
Officials at DCGI confirmed that the drug had been banned on the recommendation of European drug regulators.
Weight loss still top resolution
Making resolutions for the upcoming year is a decades-old tradition helping transition Americans from the overindulgence of Christmas to the reality of a New Year.However, the majority of voters in this week's www.weatherforddemocrat.com online poll said they'd not make any personal promises for 2009.Three of 10 cyber voters said they would make no resolutions.The poll is not scientific and reflects only the opinions of those who voted.Among those who decided to resolve for changes in the new year, diet and exercise were the top two vote getters. No surprise there as cold weather and holiday goodies combine to expand most waistlines this time of year.Almost a quarter of voters said they'd begin keeping an eye on their diets, while 14 percent said they would begin an exercise regimen. Results of the local poll keeps with results in national surveys, which find losing weight is the top resolution year in and year out.Associated Content, an online resource, reports the top 10 resolutions are losing weight, quitting smoking, expanding personal education, getting organized, learning a second language, reading more and getting a new job.Another Web site, suite101.com, states its top resolutions are very similar, but included saving money, drinking less, reducing stress, taking a trip and volunteering to help others.Not surprisingly, in the current economic situation, 16 percent of voters in the online poll chose saving money as their top resolution, while 8 percent said they'd like to quit smoking and 4 percent are hoping to get a new job in 2009.Just 4 percent said their personal resolution was not among those listed.
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